Inline means positioned in a direct line with something else, or arranged as part of the same sequence rather than set apart. When ice skaters wear inline skates (commonly called rollerblades), the wheels are arranged in a single straight line down the middle of each boot, unlike traditional roller skates where wheels sit in pairs at the four corners.

In writing and coding, inline describes elements that flow naturally within a line of text rather than breaking to a new line or appearing separately. When you add an inline comment in a computer program, you write it on the same line as the code. When you include an inline image in a document, it sits right within the text where you want it, flowing along with the words around it.

You might hear about an inline engine in cars, where the cylinders are arranged in a single row, or an inline filter that sits directly within a pipe or tube rather than off to the side. The key idea is always the same: things positioned in sequence with each other, forming one continuous line rather than being offset or separate.