A preliminary injunction is a temporary court order that requires one party to do or refrain from doing something before the final resolution of a lawsuit. It is intended to maintain the status quo by preventing harm, preserving rights, or protecting assets while the legal proceedings are ongoing. The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to balance the equities between the parties and to provide an interim remedy for a plaintiff who may suffer irreparable harm if the relief sought is not granted before trial. A preliminary injunction is typically issued only when the moving party can demonstrate that it has a strong likelihood of success on the merits, as well as a risk of immediate and irreparable harm unless the order is granted.