References

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

The HTML <track> label attribute

Attribute All modern browsers Updated
Quick answer

The HTML label attribute gives a user-readable title for a media text track, shown in the track selection menu. It is used on the <track> element.

Overview

The label attribute titles a media text track. It is used on the <track> element.

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="subtitles" src="fr.vtt" srclang="fr" label="Français">

Values

Value
A string of label text.

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 label attribute do?
Titles 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 label attribute?
It is an element-specific attribute, used on the <track> element.
label (attr) list