About this conversion
Convert SRT to VTT to use subtitles on the modern web. SRT is the universal subtitle format from the desktop video era; VTT (WebVTT) is the HTML5 standard browsers use natively for `<track>` elements. If you're embedding video on a webpage, you need VTT.
When this conversion is useful
- Adding closed captions to an HTML5 `<video>` on a webpage
- Migrating a library of SRT subtitle files to a modern web video platform
- Producing VTT for streaming services and online courses
- Updating older subtitle archives for browser-compatible playback
Quality and tradeoffs
VTT is essentially a superset of SRT with a header line, slightly different timestamp punctuation (period vs comma), and support for cue settings (positioning, styling). The conversion handles all this automatically — your original timing and text comes through unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
Will my SRT formatting (italics, bold) carry over?
Yes. Both formats use the same simple HTML-style tags (`<i>`, `<b>`) for inline formatting, so emphasis is preserved in the conversion.
What's the actual difference between SRT and VTT?
VTT adds a `WEBVTT` header, uses periods instead of commas in timestamps (`00:00:01.500` vs `00:00:01,500`), and supports cue settings for advanced positioning and styling. The base content is otherwise identical.
Why does HTML5 video require VTT?
The `<track>` element specification requires WebVTT for browser-native captions. SRT files won't load without server-side conversion or a JavaScript polyfill.