One or more systems and methods for edge-adaptive and recursive non-linear filtering of ringing effect on image or video data are disclosed in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for edge-adaptive and recursive non-linear filtering of ringing effect first involves detecting all edges within a process area of an image, including a direction of an edge slope and a value of an edge signal level. Then, if the process area is determined to be a “non-busy” area based on a “busyness” measure relative to empirically-defined threshold values, then an edge influence function subsequently determines whether to apply a de-ringing filter to a current pixel within the process area or not. Preferably, the de-ringing filter is edge-adaptive, non-linear, and recursive. The de-ringing filter can adjust the current pixel multiple times based on filter angles, adjacent pixels, and pixel transition levels.