playhead

The term playhead refers to the marker or device that indicates the current playback position within a media timeline. In hardware and software contexts, it can describe either a physical read head on magnetic tape or a visual indicator in editing and playback applications. In both cases, it guides where audio or video is read or should begin.

In analog media devices such as tape or videotape players, the playback head is the magnetic sensor that reads the stored signal from the tape as it moves past the head gap. Playback heads are distinct from erase and record heads and are responsible for converting magnetic variations into audible or visible output. In some systems, several heads operate together (playback, record, erase) to manage different functions.

In digital editing and playback software, the playhead is the on-screen vertical line, cursor, or marker that shows the current frame or time position on the timeline. It moves during playback and scrubbing and is used to set the starting point for playback, edits, or rendering. The playhead often works with other timeline tools such as in/out points, markers, and loop regions.

In audio workstations and video editors, the playhead is sometimes referred to as the transport position. It tracks tempo and frame rate, can be locked to a grid, and is essential for precise editing, syncing, and navigation. The term can also be used more generally to describe the current position indicator in any timeline-based interface.