Traveling is one of basketball's most fundamental and most debated violations. The base rule: a player holding the ball must keep one pivot foot on the floor. If they lift their pivot foot, they must have released the ball (shot or pass) before that foot touches the ground again.
In motion, a player gathering their dribble is allowed two steps before having to shoot or pass (the "gather step" rule in the NBA since 2009). Any additional step is a travel.
The NBA is historically known for being more lenient on travels than FIBA. The "euro-steps" of Manu Ginobili and James Harden redefined what the eye accepts as legal.
Traveling results in immediate loss of possession. It's one of the most frustrating violations for shooters: half a second of footwork inattention and the possession is over.
Real example
A wing catches the ball, takes three steps without dribbling before shooting: travel called, possession lost.
Related terms
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