Right of way is the legal right to travel over land owned by another, subject to any restrictions or conditions that may be specified by grant or sanctioned by custom. This grant may specifically be used as either a public road, thoroughfare, footpath, or in the form of an easement granted or reserved over the land for access. Rights of way are necessary to build and maintain public and private infrastructure systems which allow societies to operate. Examples include road and railway systems, tunnels, bridges, mass-transit systems, power stations, wind farms, hydro-electric dams, electric transmission lines and distribution, telephone and fiber optic cabling, cell phone towers, airports, and much more.

Right of way professionals are individuals who work collaboratively to develop and construct infrastructure projects such as acquisition agents, project managers, environmental professionals, attorneys, utility agents, engineers, surveyors, title experts, appraisers, relocation assistance agents, and property managers.