What aspect does "possession" refer to in legal terms?

In legal terms, "possession" primarily refers to having physical control over an item, which encompasses the ability to exercise dominion or control over it, regardless of whether one is the legal owner of that item. This means that possession can exist independently of ownership; for instance, someone may possess a rented item without having any legal title to it.

The idea of possession is crucial in many legal contexts, such as property law and criminal law, where simply having an item can have legal implications. For example, in criminal cases, a person found in possession of illegal items may be subjected to prosecution even if they are not the rightful owner.

In contrast, the notions of rightful ownership, legal title, and being named on a certificate of ownership pertain more to the legal claims one has over property rather than the actual physical control indicated by possession. Ownership and title are often separate concepts where possession can exist without them.