Glossary definition of 'Edit Decision List'

(EDL) An EDL traditionally is a list on paper indicating how a film or video program is to be edited. It would contain a sequential list of reel and timecode markers to indicate where each clip comes from in order to compile the completed project.

On modern digital editors, the EDL is a computer file that is constructed by the editing software as the operator creates edits, and is used to automate the process of constructing a final edit from the source material.