HTML5 track element question

Question

Can someone explain what the track element in HTML is for in very simple terms?

Answer 1

In the same way that a DVD can have multiple audio or video tracks, the <track> element allows HTML5 video to do the same. This is primarily useful for things like adding subtitles.

Answer 2

As it says in the spec, they're for:

• subtitles
• captions
• descriptions
• chapters
• metadata

Although this part of the spec has been in a lot of flux in recent months and it isn't finalised yet, this presentation will give you some idea of the intended usage.

Answer 3

The track element lets you define subtitles, captions, descriptions, chapters, or metadata for either an audio or video element.

Sources:

• track element
• text tracks
• media elements

Answer 4

The element allows authors to specify explicit external timed tracks for media elements. It does not represent anything on its own.

see here

Answer 5

Apologies for shameless self promotion, but I wrote an article about the track element for HTML5 Rocks: Getting Started With The Track Element.

EDIT: removed examples from post: as Jörn pointed out (see below) Chrome was crashing if you scrolled a video with a track element offscreen. This seems to have been fixed now (in 19.0.1053.0 canary) but I'll leave the examples out for the moment.

Answer 6

The src attribute gives the address of the text track data. The value must be a valid non-empty URL potentially surrounded by spaces. This attribute must be present.

Source.