Format guide
SubRip Subtitle (SRT)
The most widely supported subtitle format on the planet. Plain numbered cues with start→end timestamps.
- .srt
- application/x-subrip
- Free · runs in your browser
What is SRT?
SRT was created for the SubRip ripper utility and is now the lingua franca of subtitling: every video player, every YouTube uploader, every editing suite reads it. Each cue is a numbered block of plain text bracketed by a start→end timestamp written as `HH:MM:SS,mmm`. Styling is generally limited to a few HTML-style tags (<i>, <b>, <font>).
Common use cases
- YouTube / Vimeo subtitle uploads
- Open-source video player captions (VLC, MPV, Plex)
- Streaming platform delivery (sometimes via WebVTT conversion)
Example file
A minimal, valid .srt file
1
00:00:12,340 --> 00:00:18,910
First subtitle line
2
00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:24,500
Second line
SRT compared with the other formats
Which format to reach for is really a question of what it can carry. Every value here is read off the same parsers this site's converters run on.
| Feature | LRC | SRT | VTT | ASS | TTML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End time per cueWhether a cue says when it stops, or simply runs until the next one begins. | |||||
| Word-level timingPer-word timestamps for true karaoke highlighting. | |||||
| Styling & positioningNamed styles, layers and on-screen placement carried in the file itself. | |||||
| File-level tagsTitle, artist and album stored in the file rather than alongside it. | |||||
| Cue identifiersA handle for each cue, useful when diffing or re-syncing. | numbered | optional | optional | ||
| Timestamp precisionThe smallest time step the format can express. | centiseconds | milliseconds | milliseconds | centiseconds | milliseconds |
Free SRT tools
SRT questions
What is a SRT file?
The most widely supported subtitle format on the planet. Plain numbered cues with start→end timestamps.
How do I convert SRT to another subtitle or lyric format?
Use LrcSong's free in-browser converters to turn SRT into LRC, SRT, VTT, ASS, or TTML. No signup or upload — conversion runs entirely on your device with timestamps preserved.
Is the SRT viewer and validator free?
Yes. Viewing and validating SRT files on LrcSong is free and runs in your browser — no account required.