Skip to main content
LRCSONG

Format guide

Timed Text Markup Language (TTML / DFXP)

The XML-based broadcast standard used by Netflix, Apple Music lyrics and SMPTE-compliant pipelines.

  • .ttml
  • application/ttml+xml
  • Free · runs in your browser
Validate a TTML file Generate synced lyrics

What is TTML?

TTML is a W3C XML standard for timed text. It supports rich styling, regions, animations and accessibility metadata, and is the format Apple Music ships synchronised lyrics in (TTML 2 with Apple's iTunesTimedText profile). It also underpins SMPTE-TT for broadcast captions and is exported by professional subtitling suites such as EZTitles, Subtitle Edit and FAB.

Common use cases

  • Apple Music / Spotify / Tidal lyric distribution
  • Broadcast-grade closed captions (SMPTE-TT, EBU-TT-D)
  • Streaming-platform subtitle ingest (Netflix IMSC1)

Example file

A minimal, valid .ttml file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<tt xmlns="http://www.w3.org/ns/ttml">
  <body>
    <div>
      <p begin="00:00:12.34" end="00:00:18.91">First subtitle line</p>
      <p begin="00:00:18.92" end="00:00:24.50">Second line</p>
    </div>
  </body>
</tt>

TTML 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 support across the LRC, SRT, VTT, ASS and TTML subtitle formats
FeatureLRCSRTVTTASSTTML
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.numberedoptionaloptional
Timestamp precisionThe smallest time step the format can express.centisecondsmillisecondsmillisecondscentisecondsmilliseconds

Free TTML tools

Validate TTMLCheck syntax, timing order and structure instantly.View TTMLRender every cue with timestamps, in your browser.Convert TTML → LRCThe de-facto standard for synced song lyrics. Plain text with [mm:ss.xx] timestamps.Convert TTML → SRTThe most widely supported subtitle format on the planet. Plain numbered cues with start→end timestamps.Convert TTML → VTTThe W3C web-native subtitle format used by HTML5 <video>. SRT's modern, browser-friendly cousin.Convert TTML → ASSThe format anime, fansubs and karaoke scripts use when SRT can't keep up. Full styling, positioning and effects.

TTML questions

What is a TTML file?

The XML-based broadcast standard used by Netflix, Apple Music lyrics and SMPTE-compliant pipelines.

How do I convert TTML to another subtitle or lyric format?

Use LrcSong's free in-browser converters to turn TTML into LRC, SRT, VTT, ASS, or TTML. No signup or upload — conversion runs entirely on your device with timestamps preserved.

Is the TTML viewer and validator free?

Yes. Viewing and validating TTML files on LrcSong is free and runs in your browser — no account required.

Other formats

LRC format guideSRT format guideVTT format guideASS format guide