If an offensive player spends more than three consecutive seconds in the paint without trying to score a basket, that is a three-second violation. However, if the offensive player is in the paint for a couple of seconds and then receives the ball, a violation won’t be called as long as he is deemed as trying to score by the referee.

The three seconds rule (also referred to as the three-second rule or three in the key, often termed as lane violation) requires that in basketball, a player shall not remain in their opponent’s foul lane for more than four consecutive seconds while that player's team is in control of a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is running.

The NBA implemented the rule during the 2001 season. It states that defensive players cannot stay in the restricted area (the paint or the lane) for more than 3 seconds if they are not actively guarding an offensive player. If a team commits this violation, they are awarded a technical foul.