Blocking may refer to:

Science, technology, and mathematics

Computing and telecommunications

Blacklist (computing) In computing, a blacklist, disallowlist, blocklist, or denylist is a basic access control mechanism that allows through all elements (email addresses, users, passwords, URLs, IP addresses, domain names, file hashes, etc.), except those explic ...

Blocking (computing) In computing, a process that is blocked is waiting for some event, such as a resource becoming available or the completion of an I/O operation. Once the event occurs for which the process is waiting ("is blocked on"), the process is advanced fr ...

, holding up a task until an event occurs * Blocking (radio), interference by an off-frequency signal *

Blocking probability The erlang (symbol E) is a dimensionless unit that is used in telephony as a measure of offered load or carried load on service-providing elements such as telephone circuits or telephone switching equipment. A single cord circuit has the capacity ...

, for calls in a telecommunications system *

Head-of-line blocking Head-of-line blocking (HOL blocking) in computer networking is a performance-limiting phenomenon that occurs when a queue of packets is held up by the first packet in the queue. This occurs, for example, in input-buffered network switches, out-o ...

, in some network switching fabrics *Internet blocking; see

Block (Internet) On the Internet, a block is a technical measure intended to restrict access to information or resources. Blocking and its inverse, unblocking, may be implemented by the owners of computers using software. Blocking may also refer to denying ac ...

Psychology

* Thought blocking, a type of thought disorder * Blocking effect, in psychology *

Mental block This is a list of television programs currently and formerly broadcast by YTV (Canadian TV channel), YTV in Canada. Current programming Original programming Live-action series Animated series Short series Acquired from Nickelodeon (U.S.) ...

, a type of suppression or repression

Other uses in science

Blocking (linguistics) In linguistics, blocking is the morphological phenomenon in which a possible form for a word cannot surface because it is "blocked" by another form whose features are the most appropriate to the surface form's environment. More basically, it may ...

, where the existence of a competing form blocks the application of a morphological process *

Blocking (statistics) In the statistical theory of the design of experiments, blocking is the arranging of experimental units that are similar to one another in groups (blocks) based on one or more variables. These variables are chosen carefully to minimize the effect ...

, in the design of experiments, the arranging of experimental units in groups (blocks) which are similar to one another * Atmospheric blocking, a phenomenon in meteorology of large scale stationary pressure cells *Blocking, in the

western blot The western blot (sometimes called the protein immunoblot), or western blotting, is a widely used analytical technique in molecular biology and immunogenetics to detect specific proteins in a sample of tissue homogenate or extract. Besides detect ...

technique, a process to prevent unwanted binding of antibodies to a membrane

Other technologies

* Blocking (construction), short boards used as reinforcement or to provide attachment points in wood-framed and other forms of construction

Sport

Blocking (American football) In American football, blocking or interference (or running interference) involves legal movements in which one player uses his body to obstruct another player's path. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players from tackling the ball c ...

, the legal interference with another player's motion *

Blocking (martial arts) In martial arts, blocking is the act of stopping or deflecting an opponent's attack for the purpose of preventing injurious contact with the body. A block usually consists of placing a limb across the line of the attack. Examples in specific ar ...

, a defensive technique in martial arts

Theatre and film

Blocking (stage) In theatre, blocking is the precise staging of actors to facilitate the performance of a Play (theatre), play, ballet, film or opera. Historically, the expectations of staging/blocking have changed substantially over time in Western theater. Pr ...

, the movement and positioning of actors on a stage, or within a frame in film *

Blocking (animation) Blocking is an animation technique in which key poses are created to establish timing and placement of characters and props in a given scene or shot. This technique is most commonly used in 3D computer animation, where it is sometimes referred t ...

, a technique in which key poses establish timing and placement of items in a scene

Other uses

* Blocking (textile arts), the process of stretching a knitted garment into shape while wet or using steam * Blocking (transport), the process of dividing a transit schedule into parts that can be operated by a single vehicle *Blocking troops - military barrier troops positioned to forestall unauthorised retreats