The timeline is the primary workspace in a video editor where clips, audio, effects, and transitions are arranged sequentially to build a project.
The timeline is the heart of any non-linear editing system (NLE). It provides a visual, horizontal representation of your project from start to finish, with multiple tracks stacked vertically to layer video, audio, graphics, and effects. Editors drag and drop media onto the timeline and arrange them in the desired order and timing.
Most modern timelines support an unlimited number of video and audio tracks, allowing complex compositions. Tracks higher in the stack typically take visual priority, meaning a graphic on Video Track 3 will appear on top of footage on Video Track 1. The timeline also displays waveforms for audio, making it easier to sync sound with visuals.
Efficient timeline management is a hallmark of professional editing. Techniques like color-coding clips, using markers, nesting sequences, and organizing tracks by purpose (dialogue, music, sound effects) can dramatically speed up your workflow and keep projects manageable even at feature-film scale.
A cut is the most basic edit in video production — an instantaneous transition from one clip to the next with no visual effect between them.
A keyframe is a specific point on a timeline that marks the beginning or end of a change in a property such as position, scale, opacity, or rotation.
A rough cut is an early version of an edited video where all the major clips are assembled in sequence, but fine-tuning, effects, color grading, and sound mixing have not yet been applied.