There are two main types of captioning:
- Closed Captioning (CC): Closed captioning refers to the text that appears on a video or television screen that can be turned on or off by the viewer. Closed captions are typically used to provide access to the audio content of a program for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Closed captions can also be useful for viewers who are not fluent in the language spoken in the program or who are watching in a noisy environment where it is difficult to hear the audio.
- Open Captioning (OC): Open captioning refers to the text that is permanently embedded in the video and cannot be turned off by the viewer. Open captions are typically used in situations where the audio content of a program is difficult to hear, such as in a noisy environment or when the viewer is far away from the screen. Open captions are also useful for viewers who are not fluent in the language spoken in the program. Unlike closed captions, open captions cannot be turned off, and therefore are always visible.