Format guide
WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks)
The W3C web-native subtitle format used by HTML5 <video>. SRT's modern, browser-friendly cousin.
- .vtt
- text/vtt
- Free · runs in your browser
What is VTT?
WebVTT is the official W3C standard for HTML5 <track> elements. It looks similar to SRT but uses a `WEBVTT` header, periods (not commas) as decimal separators, and supports cue settings (position, alignment, line), regions, NOTE comments, and styling via inline ::cue rules. This is the format YouTube, Vimeo, JW Player and every browser-based player consume internally.
Common use cases
- HTML5 <video> caption tracks
- HLS / DASH adaptive streaming sidecar tracks
- Browser-rendered captions on bespoke players
Example file
A minimal, valid .vtt file
WEBVTT
00:00:12.340 --> 00:00:18.910
First caption line
00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:24.500 line:80%
Second caption line
VTT 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 VTT tools
VTT questions
What is a VTT file?
The W3C web-native subtitle format used by HTML5 <video>. SRT's modern, browser-friendly cousin.
How do I convert VTT to another subtitle or lyric format?
Use LrcSong's free in-browser converters to turn VTT into LRC, SRT, VTT, ASS, or TTML. No signup or upload — conversion runs entirely on your device with timestamps preserved.
Is the VTT viewer and validator free?
Yes. Viewing and validating VTT files on LrcSong is free and runs in your browser — no account required.