non-diegetic sound

Non-diegetic sound refers to audio elements in a film, television show, or other media that do not originate from the story's world. This includes background music, narration, or sound effects that the characters cannot hear but are designed to enhance the viewer's emotional experience or provide context. For instance, a dramatic score playing during a tense scene helps build suspense, even though the characters in the scene are unaware of the music. In essence, non-diegetic sound supports storytelling without being part of the narrative itself.