The term "long arm law" refers to a legal statute that enables a court to exercise jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant, typically in civil cases where the defendant has minimum contacts with a state. There are several synonyms that can be used to describe this type of legal provision, including "extraterritorial jurisdiction," "personal jurisdiction statute," and "long-arm statute." These laws are designed to give a court the authority to hear a case against an entity that may not be present in the state where the lawsuit is filed but has sufficient ties for the court to exert control. Overall, long arm laws are crucial in ensuring that individuals and businesses are held accountable for their actions, regardless of their physical location.