Practical guide
Ask Which Text Companion a Video Includes
Clarify timed text, translated text, and standalone transcripts by their actual function.
Begin with the reason you need text
Suppose you want to follow a creator interview without listening to the audio. Your need is different from someone who wants a translated version or a searchable written account after watching. State that need first. Labels such as captions, subtitles, and transcript can appear in offer descriptions, but the practical question is what the supplied text helps you do. Avoid assuming that one text option covers every purpose merely because the page mentions written support.
Ask about text shown during playback
In the interview example, you may need text that follows the conversation as it plays. Look for an explicit description of that experience and, if available, inspect a representative moment with a speaker change. Check whether the display makes it clear who is speaking and whether important nonspoken information is explained when needed. These are evaluation questions rather than claims about a particular implementation. The takeaway is to inspect the viewing function instead of relying only on a text-feature label.
Distinguish language support from a written record
Someone seeking a translation should check which language is actually described. Someone seeking a standalone record should check whether the text exists separately from the player. In the hypothetical interview, a translated on-screen track would not by itself establish that a separate written document is included. List those needs independently so the comparison does not blur them together. If the offer says only text included, ask what form that text takes and which part of the interview it covers.
Inspect completeness with one concrete moment
Choose a moment where the interview refers to something visible, such as a sketch held up by the guest. Consider whether the available text makes that moment understandable for your intended use. You do not need to declare the whole experience accessible or inaccessible from one example; report the specific issue you observed. A useful conclusion names the text format, its stated language and coverage, and any unanswered question. That is more actionable than a generic claim that a video has text support.