What is in line?

In line refers to a series of objects or elements that are arranged in a straight line or sequence. The term can be used to describe an alignment of text, graphics, or other items that share a common orientation. In line arrangements are commonly used in many settings, such as in manufacturing, transportation, and communication systems. In computing, in line refers to data that is input or output sequentially, one piece at a time, as opposed to batch processing where data is processed in large batches. The term is also used in sports such as ice hockey, where penalties occur in line and players are sent to the penalty box one at a time.