Area denial weapons are used to prevent an adversary occupying or traversing an area of land. The most common are land mines of various types.

The massive use of defoliants such as Agent Orange can be considered as an interdiction measure because, at their highest concentration use they leave areas empty of any form of vegetation cover. In the desert-like terrain that ensues it is impossible for an adversary to travel without being seen, and there is nothing much left for taking cover in case of an attack.

Radiological or chemical weapons might also be considered as area denial weapons, although they are not considered militarily useful at present.

In medieval warfare sharp and sturdy stakes were buried at the bottom of long lines of ditches, with the business end up, in order to prevent cavalry charges in a given area. The correct layout of these extensive lines of ditches and the quality control of stake size, form and placement (they had to be big and sturdy enough to impale a very heavy horse) was part of the craft of war.