What is the purpose of transitions in video editing?

Transitions in video editing are primarily used to create smooth changes between clips or scenes. They serve to provide a visual and sometimes auditory bridge that helps maintain the flow of the narrative, making it more cohesive. This can include effects such as fades, wipes, dissolves, and other creative techniques that guide the viewer's eye from one scene to another. By employing transitions effectively, an editor can enhance storytelling, ensure a more engaging viewing experience, and convey emotions or changes in time and space more fluidly.

The other options, while related to video production, do not directly pertain to the function of transitions. Enhancing audio clarity focuses on the sound aspect, adding text pertains to graphic overlays, and importing external media is about bringing different content into a project—none of these involve the specific use of transitions to bridge visual elements.