---
title: "Edit atom ('edts')"
framework: quicktime-file-format
role: symbol
role_heading: Atom
path: quicktime-file-format/edit_atom
---

# Edit atom ('edts')

An atom that defines the portions of the media that are to be used to build up a track for a movie.

## Overview

Overview You use edit atoms to define the portions of the media that are to be used to build up a track for a movie. The edits themselves are contained in an edit list table, which consists of time offset and duration values for each segment. Edit atoms have an atom type value of 'edts'. In the absence of an edit list, the presentation of a track starts immediately. An empty edit is used to offset the start time of a track. note: If the edit atom or the edit list atom is missing, you can assume that the entire media is used by the track.

## Topics

### Data fields

- [Size](quicktime-file-format/edit_atom/size.md)
- [Type](quicktime-file-format/edit_atom/type.md)
- [Edit list atom](quicktime-file-format/edit_atom/edit_list_atom.md)

## See Also

### Describing tracks

- [Track atom ('trak')](quicktime-file-format/track_atom.md)
- [Track header atom ('tkhd')](quicktime-file-format/track_header_atom.md)
- [Track exclude from autoselection atom ('txas')](quicktime-file-format/track_exclude_from_autoselection_atom.md)
- [Track aperture mode dimension atoms](quicktime-file-format/track_aperture_mode_dimension_atoms.md)
- [Clipping atom ('clip')](quicktime-file-format/clipping_atom.md)
- [Clipping region atom ('crgn')](quicktime-file-format/clipping_region_atom.md)
- [Track matte atom ('matt')](quicktime-file-format/track_matte_atom.md)
- [Compressed matte atom ('kmat')](quicktime-file-format/compressed_matte_atom.md)
- [Edit list atom ('elst')](quicktime-file-format/edit_list_atom.md)
- [Playing with edit lists](quicktime-file-format/playing_with_edit_lists.md)
- [Track load settings atom ('load')](quicktime-file-format/track_load_settings_atom.md)
- [Track reference atoms](quicktime-file-format/track_reference_atoms.md)
- [Track input map atoms](quicktime-file-format/track_input_map_atoms.md)