Linear Shots

A linear shot is one long continuous shot taken with a moving camera. Linear shots are used most commonly in dramas. This is because these long shots are useful for setting the tone of a film/TV show. For example, a shot tracking a man walking down the street can show, via his posture/expression/etc., what mood he is in and thus whether the film has a light or dark tone.

This episode of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

was filmed almost entirely as one continuous shot