Hard limits are activities a person refuses outright, with no room for negotiation, while soft limits are things they are hesitant about or willing to try under specific conditions. Both are stated in advance so partners know exactly where the boundaries sit.
Limits tend to shift over time as trust builds and people learn their own reactions, so many partners revisit their lists periodically rather than treating them as fixed forever. Having limits named out loud also removes the guesswork that tends to cause problems during a scene.
Worth knowing: A hard limit is only meaningful if partners actually respect it in the moment, which is why limits get discussed before play and checked in on during it.
Also called: hard limit, soft limit, limit list, boundaries, yes/no/maybe list, negotiable limits, absolute limits
