Editing Speedrunning (section)

=== Tool-assisted speedruns ===
{{main|Tool-assisted speedrun}}{{anchor|Real-time attack}}

[[File:TASInput.png|thumb|Example tool-assisted speedrun input file, showing which buttons will be pressed at which point in the sequence]]
A tool-assisted speedrun (TAS) is a speedrun that uses [[Emulator|emulation software]] and tools to create a "theoretically perfect playthrough".<ref name=":522" /> According to TASVideos, common examples of tools include advancing the game frame by frame to play the game more precisely, retrying parts of the run using savestates, and [[Hex editor|hex editing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glossary |url=https://tasvideos.org/Glossary |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=TASVideos}}</ref> These tools are designed to remove restrictions imposed by human reflexes and allow for optimal gameplay.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQ/Site |url=https://tasvideos.org/FAQ/Site |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=TASVideos}}</ref><ref name=":102">{{Cite web |last=Degraffinried |first=Natalie |date=2019-05-01 |title=Speedrunner Smashes A Computer-Assisted Super Mario Bros. Record By A Single Frame |url=https://kotaku.com/speedrunner-smashes-a-computer-assisted-super-mario-bro-1834457319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906043049/https://kotaku.com/speedrunner-smashes-a-computer-assisted-super-mario-bro-1834457319 |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |access-date=2020-04-20 |website=Kotaku |language=en-us}}</ref> The run is recorded as a series of controller inputs intended to be fed back to the game in sequence.<ref name="SnyderBook" /> Although generally recorded on an emulator, TASes can be played back on original console hardware by sending inputs into the console's controller ports, a process known as console verification (as some exploits are possible on emulation but not console).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2014-01-14 |title=How an emulator-fueled robot reprogrammed Super Mario World on the fly |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/01/how-an-emulator-fueled-robot-reprogrammed-super-mario-world-on-the-fly/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ConsoleVerification/Movies |url=https://tasvideos.org/ConsoleVerification/Movies |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=TASVideos}}</ref> To differentiate them from tool-assisted speedruns, unassisted speedruns are sometimes referred to as ''real-time attack'' (RTA) speedruns. Due to the lack of a human playing the game in real time, TASes are not considered to be in competition with RTA speedruns.<ref name="SnyderBook" />