References

Beginner-friendly references for web development, with live, editable examples.

The HTML kind attribute

Attribute All modern browsers Updated
Quick answer

The HTML kind attribute specifies the kind of text track being provided. It is used on the <track> element.

Overview

The kind attribute sets the kind of a media text track. It is used on the <video>, <audio>, <source> and <track> elements.

It configures native audio or video playback — the source, controls, autoplay and looping behavior, the poster image, and text tracks. It works with the <video>/<audio> elements and their nested <source> and <track> children.

Syntax

<track kind="captions" src="caps.vtt" srclang="en" label="English">

Values

Value
subtitles | captions | descriptions | chapters | metadata

Best practices

  • Provide controls so users can play, pause and seek.
  • Browsers only allow autoplay when the media is also muted.
  • Always add captions with a <track> for accessibility.
  • Offer multiple formats with nested <source> elements for broad support.

Frequently asked questions

What does the kind attribute do?
Sets the kind of a media text track.
Why won't my video autoplay?
Browsers block autoplay with sound. The media must be muted to autoplay.
How do I make media accessible?
Add captions via a <track>, and provide a transcript for audio-only content.
Which elements use the kind attribute?
It is an element-specific attribute, used on the <video>, <audio>, <source> and <track> elements.
ismap label (attr)