It involves several stages, including transcription of the original dialogue, translation into the target language, and synchronization of the subtitles with the video content. Subtitles must also consider factors such as the length of the text, the timing of the spoken words, and the readability of the subtitles. Subtitling can enhance the accessibility and reach of video content, making it more accessible to viewers who do not speak or understand the original language. It can also promote cross-cultural understanding and facilitate communication and exchange on a global scale.

Alignment can be performed at various levels of granularity, ranging from individual words and phrases to entire paragraphs or documents. It can be used to align texts in different languages, as well as different versions of the same language, such as variations in spelling or punctuation. Alignment is an important component of computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools, which are commonly used in the translation industry. It enables translators to leverage previously translated content, reducing the time and effort required to produce high-quality translations.