In Tokenomist's emission methodology, total emission equals cliff plus linear. Linear emission is the continuous, daily release of a specific number of tokens from a locked allocation. If 36 million tokens vest linearly over 36 months, approximately 33,333 tokens enter circulation each day. This daily granularity is the defining characteristic — any release schedule that distributes tokens on a daily basis qualifies as linear in Tokenomist's classification. The distinction between linear and cliff matters because daily releases spread supply pressure across hundreds of trading sessions rather than concentrating it into a single event. When you examine a token on Tokenomist's Token Unlocks dashboard, the emission chart clearly separates linear flows (steady daily baseline) from cliff spikes (discrete events). This separation helps you assess whether upcoming supply growth will arrive as a manageable daily trickle or a concentrated shock. Many protocols combine both emission types: a cliff period (no tokens for 6-12 months) followed by daily linear release over the remaining vesting duration. On the Emission Comparison tool, you can overlay two tokens' emission profiles side by side to compare how much of each token's supply growth comes from linear versus cliff sources. Tokens with a higher linear-to-cliff ratio tend to experience smoother price action around unlock events because the market continuously prices in the daily flow. Linear vesting does not eliminate sell-side pressure — it distributes it. A token releasing 0.5% of circulating supply daily through linear vesting still faces meaningful dilution over weeks and months. The advantage is predictability: daily flows are forecastable, allowing market participants to adjust positions gradually rather than reacting to surprise supply events.