Caption

A caption is the written text that accompanies a social media post, giving the photo or video context, personality, or a call to action.

On Instagram a caption can run up to 2,200 characters, but only the first 125 or so show in the feed before the "more" link, so the opening line carries most of the weight.

Captions differ from closed captions: a post caption is written text under the media, while closed captions are the timed subtitles overlaid on a video for accessibility.

Strong captions are specific to the image, sound like the account's voice, and give people a reason to comment, save, or share rather than just scroll past.

If you need ready-made lines, our Instagram caption library has thousands sorted by theme, and the caption writing guide covers the craft from hook to hashtags.

Share this term

Questions about caption

What is a caption on Instagram?

The caption is the text field under an Instagram post where you add context, personality, hashtags, and mentions. It can be up to 2,200 characters, though only the first 125 or so show in the feed before the "more" link.

What is the difference between a caption and a closed caption?

A post caption is the written text that sits under a photo or video on social media. Closed captions are timed subtitles rendered over a video so viewers can follow the audio with the sound off.

What makes a good social media caption?

A good caption is specific to the image, sounds like a person rather than a brand template, and gives people a reason to react. Short usually wins: the strongest captions land in the first line.

Turn social media knowledge into a simpler workflow

Start free trialBook a demo