Adding a picture or video is the easy part. Making it load efficiently and understandable to every visitor is the real goal.
What You Need to Know
Subtitles generally translate speech; captions include speech and important sound information. Descriptions add visual context when dialogue alone does not explain what is happening.
Try the Example
Take a look at the example. We’ll explain the important lines right below it.
<video controls width="600">
<source src="media/lesson.mp4" type="video/mp4">
<track src="media/captions-en.vtt" kind="captions" srclang="en" label="English" default>
</video>Let’s Read the Code
- <video>: The video element creates a video player and can include alternative formats.
- <source>: A source points to a media file or image choice with a type or other condition.
- controls: Controls asks the browser to provide its native audio or video player controls.
- width: Width gives a preferred or intrinsic media width, depending on the element.
Read the named elements and attributes together. They explain how the browser connects this feature to the rest of the page.
What Happens in the Browser?
The paths shown here refer to files in your own example project. Put real images and recordings in those locations before expecting them to load.
Captions and transcripts are different. A captions file contains timed cues that appear during playback. A transcript is a readable written version that can stay on the page. Neither one is automatically produced simply by adding a track element.
Your Turn
Replace the media filename with your own local recording and check playback, controls, and fallback content.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Expecting the page to run scripted behavior when the required JavaScript is missing.
- Always check keyboard access, readable alternatives, and any missing files; a perfect player layout does not guarantee accessible content.
Key Takeaways
- Subtitles generally translate speech; captions include speech and important sound information.
- <video>: The video element creates a video player and can include alternative formats.
- If the resource cannot load, users still need enough text to understand what was meant to be there.