For timed text displayed with an HTML video, choose WebVTT: it is designed for external text tracks used with the HTML <track> element. Use SRT when a platform or editing workflow asks for it. Choose LRC for synchronized song lyrics only when the intended player supports the LRC variant you plan to use.
What each timed-text format is for
LRC: synchronized lyrics
LRC is a text-based sidecar format for syncing song lyrics with audio. In its simple form, a timestamp precedes each lyric line; some enhanced variants can timestamp individual words. LRC does not have one universally established variant in the sources reviewed, so the file extension alone does not tell you which features a player will accept. Wikipedia’s LRC overview is community edited, rather than a formal standards specification.
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SRT: subtitle exchange
SRT, or SubRip, organizes subtitles as numbered blocks with timings and text, usually separated by blank lines. It is common in subtitle workflows, but the available sources do not establish one normative specification that every receiving product follows. The Library of Congress describes the format and cites a SubRip manual; its record also notes W3C’s acknowledgement that SRT was the basis for WebVTT. See the Library of Congress SRT format description and its WebVTT format description.
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WebVTT: text tracks for web video
WebVTT means Web Video Text Tracks. It is intended for external text tracks connected to HTML video through <track>. The W3C specification covers subtitles and captions, as well as chapters and time-aligned metadata. Its cue model and presentation options are designed for browser-based tracks. The current W3C WebVTT publication is a Candidate Recommendation Draft dated 20 May 2026, not a final Recommendation; W3C identifies it as work in progress that may change.
#1 Best Overall
Choose by where and how the text will be used
| Need | Start with | Why | Check before publishing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captions or subtitles attached to an HTML video element | WebVTT | It is expressly intended for external text tracks with HTML <track>. |
Confirm that the browser or video player supports the cue settings, styling, and track behavior you rely on. |
| A subtitle file requested by a platform or editor | The requested format, often SRT when that workflow calls for it | SRT is used in subtitle workflows and was the basis for WebVTT, but acceptance and conventions vary by receiving product. | Verify accepted file types, encoding, timing syntax, and supported features in that product. |
| Lyrics synchronized with a song in a music player | LRC | Its purpose is timed lyrics; some variants also support word-level timing. | Check whether the player supports simple or enhanced LRC and which timestamp and metadata conventions it expects. |
What changes in practice between the formats
Timing granularity
WebVTT cues have start and end times. Their start times are ordered, although cues may overlap. Simple LRC typically timestamps lines, while enhanced variants may timestamp individual words. SRT also uses timed subtitle blocks, but exact conventions should be confirmed with the receiving workflow rather than assumed from the extension.
Presentation and structure
WebVTT defines more than cue text and timing. Its specification includes cue identifiers and presentation settings for positioning, alignment, size, writing direction, and cue regions. Those capabilities can matter when text needs to be placed over video. Whether a particular player honors a setting is a separate compatibility question.
Rank #2
Interoperability
A file that looks syntactically plausible is not proof that a target player or platform supports its variant or features. This matters especially for SRT conventions and LRC variants: the sources cited here do not establish a current platform-by-platform support matrix. Treat the destination’s documentation or an import test as decisive.
WebVTT details to get right on a website
- A WebVTT file starts with the
WEBVTTsignature. - The W3C draft specifies UTF-8 and identifies
text/vttas the MIME type. - Cues carry start and end times. Cue start times must be ordered, but cues can overlap.
- The specification permits cue identifiers and defines presentation settings for caption and subtitle cues.
- The track context supplies the cue data kind, such as subtitles or captions; a single WebVTT file must not mix data kinds.
For current syntax and status, consult the W3C WebVTT Candidate Recommendation Draft. Its publication status is time-sensitive, so check the live W3C page when implementing against the specification.
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Rank #3
A practical decision rule
- Identify the destination. If the text belongs to an HTML video track, begin with WebVTT. If a platform or editor specifies a file type, follow that requirement. If the content is timed song lyrics, consider LRC.
- Check the destination’s feature support. Confirm the accepted format, timing conventions, encoding, and any styling or word-timing features you need.
- Validate in the actual player or workflow. Check that cues appear at the intended times and that the features you depend on are rendered or imported correctly.
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