Linear editing is when you can not go back and make changes after you have made a cut. Such a system would be if you were using your camcorder and a VCR to edit. If you want to change something, you must go back and redo everything after the edit point.

It is important to note that some free software is Linear, in a sense. As you build the timeline some programs require you to go back and redo everything after the point of a change. Thus, the system is Linear.

See also NLE.