Forum Discussion
What's the difference between alt text, captions and subtitles?
I've wondered this for some time (particularly subtitles v captions) so I decided to search online and I'm still none the wiser. Some sources claim that subtitles and captions are interchangeable but I don't think that's correct!
Please help!
Hi Charlie, and welcome to E-Learning Heroes!
I appreciate you sharing your curiosity.
I've found that focusing on the people these tools are for helps me remember. I'm happy to share a high-level explanation.- People experiencing blindness or low vision: Alternative text (alt text) is added to images and other objects so that assistive technology can read them.
- People experiencing D/deafness or hard of hearing: Captions (typically closed) convey audio in time-synchronized text form.
- People who don't understand the language: Subtitles provide translations for language in audiovisual media.
I hope this helps! Let us know if you have more specific questions as you build your courses.
