A preliminary ruling is a decision made by a court or judicial body before it has fully considered all the evidence and arguments in a case. It can be requested by one party to help clarify certain legal issues, or it may be issued on its own initiative if the court believes that a particular issue needs to be resolved before proceeding with the trial. The purpose of a preliminary ruling is to provide guidance on points of law and to narrow down the issues in dispute so that the final decision can be made more efficiently. It does not, however, determine the outcome of the case itself.