Characters per second (CPS)
Characters per second (CPS) is the standard measure of caption reading speed: total characters in a caption divided by its display duration.
Style guides from major platforms commonly cap CPS around 17–20 for adult content and lower for children's programming. CPS, line length and minimum display duration together define whether captions feel comfortable or frantic.
Related terms
Frequently asked
What is Characters per second?
Characters per second (CPS) is the standard measure of caption reading speed: total characters in a caption divided by its display duration.
Why does Characters per second matter?
Style guides from major platforms commonly cap CPS around 17–20 for adult content and lower for children's programming. CPS, line length and minimum display duration together define whether captions feel comfortable or frantic.
What terms are related to Characters per second?
Closely related concepts: Caption reading speed, Caption line length — each has its own entry in this glossary.
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