Media

Transcript

Also known as: Text transcript

A transcript is the full text version of an audio or video file, so people can read it instead of listening or watching.

In plain terms

A transcript writes out everything said, and for video, describes the meaningful visuals too. Unlike captions, it isn't timed to the playback — it's a plain document you can read, search or skim at your own pace.

Why it matters

Transcripts help deaf-blind users (who read them on a Braille display), anyone who prefers reading, and search engines that can now index your spoken content. For audio-only content like a podcast, a transcript is the accessibility requirement (WCAG 1.2.1).

Example

A podcast episode publishes a full transcript on the page — which also happens to rank in Google for the topics discussed.

Related terms

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