open captions

Open captions are text that appears directly on a video or screen, displaying dialogue, sound effects, or other important audio information. They are "open" because they cannot be turned off or hidden by the viewer—embedded into the video itself. Open captions are often used to ensure content is accessible to all viewers, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or in noisy environments. Unlike closed captions, which can be toggled on or off, open captions provide a constant visual aid, making the content more inclusive and universally understandable.