pivoting

Pivoting is the act of turning or rotating around a fixed point or axis. In geometry and mechanics, a pivot is the point or joint around which a body moves. In anatomy, pivot joints allow rotation around a single axis, such as the atlas and axis joints of the neck and the proximal radioulnar joint of the forearm. In computing and design, pivoting can also refer to reorienting an object or dataset around a chosen reference point.

In computer graphics and animation, the pivot point determines how an object rotates and scales. Changing the pivot can change the apparent motion and alignment of objects within a scene. In robotics, a pivot or pivot axis provides a rotational joint for links in a robot arm. In user interfaces, pivoting can describe rotating a view or element around a central point when adjusting layouts.

In business and startups, a pivot is a strategic shift to a new product, market, or business model based on learning from experiments and feedback. A pivot is usually considered when the current approach is underperforming or a more promising opportunity emerges. Examples include companies that pivot from a broad product to a focused niche or from a free-to-pay model to a subscription model, often retaining some core capabilities or users.

In cybersecurity, pivoting (lateral movement) describes techniques that an intruder uses to move from a compromised host to other devices within a network, exploiting trust relationships or misconfigurations. In security testing, controlled pivoting simulates attacker methods to identify risks; defenders monitor for atypical movement patterns as indicators of breach.