Capacitive linear encoder for determining positions along a feed direction (x) comprising • a read head having a multiplicity of first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U), in particular emitter electrodes, arranged along the feed direction (x), • a scale having a multiplicity of second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n), in particular receiver electrodes, arranged along the feed direction (x), and • a control and evaluation unit, wherein • read head and scale are displaceable relative to one another in the feed direction (x), • the width of the first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) and the width of the second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n) are coordinated with one another, • the first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) have at least three coupling signal phases (R, S, T, U) offset with respect to one another, in particular four coupling signal phases offset with respect to one another by in each case one quarter, wherein the sequence of the coupling signal phases (R, S, T, U) is defined by a phase permutation, such that in each case a series of adjacent first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) form a phase permutation interval(P-interval), • upon control by the control and evaluation unit temporally changing coupling signals are exchanged by capacitive coupling between the first and second coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U, 6, 6p, 6n), • the positions are determinable by the control and evaluation unit by a signal evaluation of the coupling signals exchanged between the first and second coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U, 6, 6p, 6n), wherein the second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n) are divided into at least two mutually reciprocal types (6n, 6p) for a differential evaluation of the coupling signals, and • the scale is passive, for which purpose the linear encoder comprises, in particular capacitive, signal transfer means for transferring the coupling signals between scale and read head, characterized in that • the scale has at least one, in particular capacitive, position reference marker (4, 4a-4d) which is formed by means of the signal transfer means, for which purpose signal transfer means are modified at a location of the scale that defines a position reference, • wherein for position reference marker identification the position reference marker (4, 4a-4d) is identifiable by means of identification signals controlled by the control and evaluation unit. • a read head having a multiplicity of first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U), in particular emitter electrodes, arranged along the feed direction (x), • a scale having a multiplicity of second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n), in particular receiver electrodes, arranged along the feed direction (x), and • a control and evaluation unit, • read head and scale are displaceable relative to one another in the feed direction (x), • the width of the first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) and the width of the second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n) are coordinated with one another, • the first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) have at least three coupling signal phases (R, S, T, U) offset with respect to one another, in particular four coupling signal phases offset with respect to one another by in each case one quarter, wherein the sequence of the coupling signal phases (R, S, T, U) is defined by a phase permutation, such that in each case a series of adjacent first coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U) form a phase permutation interval(P-interval), • upon control by the control and evaluation unit temporally changing coupling signals are exchanged by capacitive coupling between the first and second coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U, 6, 6p, 6n), • the positions are determinable by the control and evaluation unit by a signal evaluation of the coupling signals exchanged between the first and second coupling electrodes (5, 5R-5U, 6, 6p, 6n), wherein the second coupling electrodes (6, 6p, 6n) are divided into at least two mutually reciprocal types (6n, 6p) for a differential evaluation of the coupling signals, and • the scale is passive, for which purpose the linear encoder comprises, in particular capacitive, signal transfer means for transferring the coupling signals between scale and read head, • the scale has at least one, in particular capacitive, position reference marker (4, 4a-4d) which is formed by means of the signal transfer means, for which purpose signal transfer means are modified at a location of the scale that defines a position reference, • wherein for position reference marker identification the position reference marker (4, 4a-4d) is identifiable by means of identification signals controlled by the control and evaluation unit.