An order issued by a court precluding the party subject to the order from a certain course of action. Typically a restraining order is issued to preserve the status quo until a court can fully consider the matter and is replaced at the end of a case with an injunction but sometimes the permanent decision will be entitled a Restraining Order. Some Restraining Orders are issues with an expiry date.
A Temporary Restraining Order or TRO is usually an interim measure granted by a court on an Ex Parte basis until the court has an opportunity to have a full hearing at which the party subject to the order will have an opportunity to present its case. See Application Without Notice; Anton Piller Order; Mareva Injunction; Saisie Contrafaçon.