Introduction
When working with video subtitles, you will almost certainly encounter two major formats: **SRT (SubRip Text)** and **VTT (WebVTT - Web Video Text Tracks)**. While both are plain-text formats designed to synchronize text with video playback, they were built for different eras of technology.
In this breakdown, we examine the differences between SRT and VTT, their syntax variations, and when you should choose one over the other.
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Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | SRT (.srt) | WebVTT (.vtt) |
|---|---|---|
| **Origin** | Windows SubRip DVD ripping tool (2000) | W3C Web Standards for HTML5 (2010) |
| **Header** | None (starts with index `1`) | Required (`WEBVTT` on line 1) |
| **Timecode Separator** | Comma (`,`) e.g. `00:01:23,456` | Period (`.`) e.g. `00:01:23.456` |
| **Hour Component** | Mandatory (`HH:MM:SS,mmm`) | Optional for short times (`MM:SS.mmm`) |
| **Styling & Positioning** | Limited / Player dependent | Native CSS styling, alignment, and positioning |
| **HTML5 `<video>` Support** | No native support | Native standard support |
| **Desktop Media Players** | Universally supported | Widely supported |
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1. Format Breakdown: SRT (SubRip Text)
SRT is the oldest and most universally supported subtitle format in existence. Almost every hardware TV, streaming box, and software video player supports `.srt`.
SRT Structure Example: ```srt 1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,500 හෙලෝ, ඔයා කොහෙද යන්නේ?
2 00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:08,300 මම මේ ටවුන් එක පැත්තට යනවා. ```
Key Characteristics: - **Sequential Indexing**: Every cue must have an integer index (`1`, `2`, `3`). - **Strict Timestamp Syntax**: Hours must have 2 digits, and milliseconds must be separated by a **comma (`,`)**. - **Simplicity**: No complex metadata or CSS styles—just timing and text.
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2. Format Breakdown: WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks)
WebVTT was developed by the W3C to bring rich subtitle and caption capabilities directly to modern web browsers and the HTML5 `<track>` element.
WebVTT Structure Example: ```vtt WEBVTT - Sinhala Spoken Subtitles
1 00:00:01.200 --> 00:00:04.500 align:middle size:80% හෙලෝ, ඔයා කොහෙද යන්නේ?
cue-2 00:05.100 --> 00:08.300 <v Speaker1>මම මේ ටවුන් එක පැත්තට යනවා.</v> ```
Key Characteristics: - **Header Line**: Must start with `WEBVTT` on the first line. - **Dot Milliseconds**: Milliseconds are separated by a **dot (`.`)**, not a comma. - **Positioning & Alignment**: Allows specifying screen coordinates, text alignment (`align:start`, `align:center`), and bounding box size (`size:80%`). - **Speaker Tags & Styling**: Supports `<v SpeakerName>`, `<b>`, `<i>`, and custom CSS classes.
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When to Use Which?
Choose **SRT** if: 1. You are downloading subtitles for offline viewing in **VLC, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, or TV USB ports**. 2. You are uploading to older media centers or legacy transcoding pipelines. 3. You need maximum universal playback across hardware devices.
Choose **VTT** if: 1. You are building a **web application** or embedding video with HTML5 `<video>` tags. 2. You are uploading captions to platforms like **YouTube, Vimeo, or Coursera**. 3. You require custom subtitle positioning (e.g. top of the screen to avoid covering lower-third graphics).
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Conclusion
Both SRT and VTT are great formats. At **Sinhala Subtitle Translator**, our built-in parser and writer allow you to seamlessly switch between formats with a single click, automatically adjusting comma and dot timestamp formatting.