The kinematic chain is a single branch of a hierarchy used for animation with inverse kinematics (IK). The chain starts with the end joint and travels up through ancestors until it reaches the start joint. When you move the IK goal, the IK solver then uses IK calculations to move and rotate all other objects in the kinematic chain to react to the object you moved.

Note: You can move the IK goal away from the end joint, which causes the IK chain to straighten out. When you move the goal back toward the end joint, joints in the IK chain will bend again.