What is an SRT file?
An SRT file (SubRip Subtitle) is a plain-text file that holds a video's subtitles and the exact time each one should appear. It ends in .srt and is the most widely supported subtitle format: YouTube, Facebook, VLC, most TVs and almost every video editor accept it.
What an SRT file looks like
Each subtitle has three parts: a number, a start and end time, and the text. A blank line separates one subtitle from the next.
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Welcome to today's class.
2
00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,200
Today we'll learn something new.Times are written as hours:minutes:seconds,milliseconds. The arrow --> separates the start time from the end time.
How to open or edit one
- Any text editor (Notepad on Windows, a notes app on your phone) can open it.
- Save it with UTF-8 encoding so Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and other scripts display correctly.
- Keep the numbering, times and blank lines exactly as they are, or players may stop reading the file.
SRT file vs. subtitles on the video
An SRT file is separate from the video, so viewers can turn it on or off and you can upload several languages. Subtitles burned onto the video are always visible and work on platforms that don't accept subtitle files, such as many social apps. This YouTube guide explains when to use each.
Making an SRT file automatically
Typing timings by hand takes hours. Subtitle Converter listens to your video or audio on your phone and saves both an SRT file and a video with subtitles, in the language you choose. See how it works.