What does it mean to have standing in a legal context?

Having standing in a legal context means an individual or entity has the right to bring a case to court because they have a substantial stake in the outcome. This is a critical concept in law, as it ensures that cases are brought by parties who are directly affected by the issues at hand, who have suffered an actual injury, or who have a legitimate interest in the resolution of the case. This requirement helps to maintain judicial efficiency by preventing courts from hearing cases that do not involve real controversies or injuries.

In essence, standing acts as a gatekeeping mechanism that encourages only those with a direct and vested interest to engage the judicial system, ensuring that the judiciary is not burdened with abstract disputes or theoretical questions that do not involve identifiable parties with concrete stakes.