What is the primary use of a chalk line in carpentry?

The primary use of a chalk line in carpentry is to mark straight lines over long distances. A chalk line consists of a string coated with chalk that, when snapped against a surface, leaves a straight, visible line. This tool is especially valuable for ensuring that cuts, placements, and alignments are straight and true, which is essential for achieving precision in woodworking projects. By allowing carpenters to quickly extend lines over large spans, chalk lines help in scenarios such as laying out walls, aligning flooring, or marking cuts on large sheets of material, which would be challenging to do accurately using a ruler or tape measure alone.