What Is an Explainer Video?

Explainer videos are one of the most versatile formats in video marketing and documentation. They appear on product landing pages, in investor decks, in onboarding email sequences, and at the top of help center articles. Unlike tutorial videos, which walk through specific steps to complete a task, explainer videos address the "what" and "why" before the "how" — they orient the viewer to a concept, product, or process so that subsequent tutorials or documentation make sense. A well-made explainer video reduces the number of support tickets and follow-up questions that a product generates.

Explainer video styles range from animation (motion graphics, whiteboard) to live action (talking head, documentary) to screen recording. Screen recording explainers are common for software products: they show the actual interface in context rather than illustrated mockups, which builds credibility and reduces the gap between what the viewer sees in the video and what they encounter when they open the product. A screen recording explainer that says "here is what the dashboard looks like and why each section matters" gives the viewer a mental model they can immediately apply.

For screen recording explainers, the production approach differs from a how-to video. Rather than moving through steps at the viewer's pace, an explainer might pan slowly across the interface, pause on key elements with freehand annotation circles, and use narration to explain the purpose of each area. Cursor spotlight keeps the viewer's eye anchored to where the presenter is pointing. Limelight supports this style of recording with its cursor spotlight, freehand annotation tools, and flexible export — making it practical to produce screen recording explainers alongside how-to and demo content without switching tools.