# Timeline

Canonical URL: https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/timeline
Last updated: 2026-10-08

> Definition: In video editing, the timeline is the workspace where clips, audio, text and graphics are arranged on horizontal tracks against time, so their order, length and layering define the finished video.

The timeline is the edit itself. Every editor, from a phone app to a film suite, shows it the same way: time runs left to right, and stacked rows hold video, audio, text and graphics. Where a clip sits, how long it is, and which row it's on decide what the viewer sees and hears at every moment.

## What are the parts of a timeline?

The main parts of a timeline are:

- **Tracks.** Horizontal rows. Video tracks stack picture on top of each other; audio tracks mix together.
- **Clips.** Pieces of media placed on tracks, each with a start, end and source in-point.
- **The playhead.** The line marking the current frame.
- **Ruler and timecode.** The time scale across the top.
- **Zoom.** Fit the whole video or zoom in to individual frames.
- **Snapping.** Clips lock to edges, the playhead and markers so edits line up exactly.

## How is the timeline used for short-form, YouTube and product videos?

For short-form and YouTube videos, the timeline is mostly a talking-head track with captions above it and music and sound effects below. Product videos add more layers: screen recordings in boxes, text callouts, motion graphics, logo reveals. Knowing what sits on which row matters because a graphic on a lower track can be hidden by a picture above it.

## Timeline vs transcript editing: what's the difference?

A timeline shows the edit in time; a transcript shows it as words. [Transcript-based editing](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/transcript-based-editing) is faster for cutting speech, but anything visual, like layering, timing a graphic to a gesture or a [J-cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/j-cut), needs a timeline. Most modern editors offer both views of the same edit.

## How does the timeline work in Vidiyo?

Vidiyo has a real timeline under the chat, and every AI edit lands on it. Picture layers are listed top of the stack first, so a higher row draws on top: text and shapes each get a row, and a video track is one row holding its clips, with audio tracks below. Frames are integer 30 fps. Clips snap to the playhead, open comments and every clip edge, with a yellow guide. Manual edits don't ripple; ripple delete is explicit. Selecting a layer opens its keyframe lanes underneath. Keyboard: Space plays, B splits, = and − zoom, Shift-Z fits. Timelines max out at 5 minutes.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the playhead?

The playhead is the vertical line on the timeline marking the current moment. The preview shows the frame under it, and actions like split, add text or add a keyframe happen at its position.

### What is the difference between a track and a layer?

A track is a row on the timeline that holds clips over time. A layer is a visual element in the stack: higher rows draw on top of lower ones. In many editors, video tracks act as layers.

### What is a ripple delete?

A ripple delete removes a section and closes the gap by moving everything after it earlier. A normal delete leaves a gap where the section was.

## Related terms

- [Keyframe](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/keyframe)
- [Rough cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/rough-cut)
- [Jump cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/jump-cut)
- [J-cut](https://getvidiyo.app/glossary/j-cut)

## Where Vidiyo does this

- [Layers and keyframes, by hand or by chat](https://getvidiyo.app/features/layers-and-keyframes)
- [Edit video by chatting](https://getvidiyo.app/features/chat-video-editing)