A rope line is a setting in which a major celebrity, i.e. movie star, musician, supermodel, politician, internet celebrity, interacts with the general public. A crowd control barrier – originally a rope but now typically a secure metal fence – separates the celebrity from the crowd. In American political terminology, a politician "walking down the rope line" or "working the rope line" is engaging with his supporters – hand shaking, chatting, signing autographs and providing photo opportunities.