A U.S. patent is a right granted by the federal government for a qualifying invention. It generally gives the patent owner, for a limited period, the right to exclude others in the United States from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing the patented invention. A patent does not automatically give its owner permission to make or sell a product; other patents, regulations, or contractual restrictions may still apply.

In exchange for these potential exclusionary rights, the patent application must describe the invention in sufficient detail. The scope of protection is defined principally by the patent claims, which are examined by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).