Understanding the ::cue Pseudo-Element in CSS
The ::cue pseudo-element is used to style WebVTT (Web Video Text Tracks) cues in media elements like <video> or <audio>. It allows you to customize the appearance of subtitles or captions rendered by the browser.
::cuetargets the text of a WebVTT track, such as subtitles or captions.You can style properties like
color,background,font-size,font-family,text-shadow, andline-height.It applies only to text rendered from
<track>elements associated with media.Multiple
::cueselectors can be combined with conditions, e.g.,::cue(v[lang=en])for language-specific styling.
In this example, all subtitles from the WebVTT track are displayed with yellow text on a semi-transparent black background, with a slight text shadow for readability.
Use
::cueto improve subtitle readability and match your site's design.Test styling across different browsers, as some may render cues slightly differently.
Avoid overly decorative styles that could make subtitles hard to read.
Combine with accessibility guidelines to ensure subtitles are legible for all users.