An injunction is a court order requiring the parties to whom it is addressed (the enjoined parties) not to engage in certain activity (a prohibitory injunction) or to engage in certain activity (an affirmative injunction), and is usually designed to maintain the current state of things (the status quo).

In Iowa, an injunction is a legal remedy that can be issued by a court to require a party to either refrain from specific acts (prohibitory injunction) or to perform specific acts (affirmative injunction). The purpose of an injunction is often to maintain the status quo or to prevent harm that cannot be adequately remedied by monetary damages. To obtain an injunction in Iowa, the party seeking the injunction must file a petition with the court and typically must demonstrate that they are likely to succeed on the merits of the case, that they will suffer irreparable harm without the injunction, that the balance of equities tips in their favor, and that the injunction is in the public interest. Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.1502 outlines the procedure for obtaining a temporary injunction, which may be granted without written or oral notice to the adverse party if it clearly appears from specific facts that immediate and irreparable injury will result to the applicant before the adverse party can be heard in opposition. A temporary injunction can be made permanent after a full hearing. The specific requirements and procedures for injunctions can be complex, and parties often seek the assistance of an attorney to navigate the legal process.