lineout

Lineout, or line-out, is a term used in several domains. In sports, it denotes a restart of play in rugby when the ball leaves the field of play across the touchline. In electronics and audio, line-out refers to a standard audio output that delivers a signal at line level to other equipment, such as mixers or recording devices.

Rugby line-out: When the ball goes into touch, play resumes with players from each team forming two lines perpendicular to the sideline. The ball is thrown between the two lines by the team awarded the line-out. Players may jump to catch or deflect the ball, often with support from teammates lifting the jumper. The throw must be straight, and the defending team may attempt to contest the ball, subject to the rules of the competition. The line-out ends when the ball is in play again or goes into touch, or after certain penalties.

Audio line-out: The line-out is a dedicated output that carries a low-impedance, unamplified signal intended to be fed to receivers, amplifiers, or recording gear. It is typically unbalanced or balanced, using connectors such as RCA/phono, 3.5 mm, 6.35 mm TRS, or XLR. It is distinct from speaker outputs, which drive loudspeakers through power amplification. Devices may label it line out or line-out and may include level controls, impedance matching, or a default fixed level.