What is widow or orphan protection?

Widow or orphan protection refers to a provision in the publishing industry that safeguards the appearance of text on a page. Specifically, it prevents a single line of a paragraph (an orphan) from being left at the top of a page or a single line (a widow) from being stranded at the bottom of a page. This practice enhances readability and maintains the visual integrity of the text, ensuring that paragraphs are presented in a more complete and cohesive manner.