time code

A sequence of numeric codes generated at fixed intervals to provide a time synchronization signal. The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) time code used throughout the AV and production industries uses an eight-digit data scheme, representing the hour, minute, second, and frame number for each frame of a video sequence. The SMPTE time code is encoded in a wide variety of formats, including being embedded in audio, video, and data streams.