A rail integration system is a generic term for a standardized system for attaching accessories to firearms. Rail systems are straight mounting brackets on the gun's receiver, handguard, or fore-end stock to allow sliding or variable-position attachments. An advantage of the multiple rail slots is the moveable positions to adjust for optimal placement of each item for a user's preferences, along with the ability to switch different items at different placements due to varying eye reliefs on gun sights.
A rail system mounted on top of a SIG SG 550
A dovetail rail on a rifle receiver for mounting a sight
A Romanian PSL rifle with a Warsaw rail
A French Army soldier armed with an Heckler & Koch HK416 with multiple rail-mounted attachments, including a scope, a tactical light, and an M320 underbarrel grenade launcher
A tactical light or weapon light is a flashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low-light target identification, allowing the user to simultaneously aim a weapon and illuminate the target. Tactical lights can be handheld or mounted to the weapon with the light beam parallel to the bore. Tactical lights can also serve as a non-lethal weapon, used to temporarily blind and disorient targets or, in the case of a large handheld flashlight, to be used as a blunt weapon.
A tactical light mounted to the bottom rail of a rifle
Tactical light and a target in a low-light environment
Alert (top) and Ready (bottom) positions of two different flashlight holds for use with handguns, from MCRP 3-01B section 10
A Heckler & Koch USP with a SureFire flashlight mounted below its barrel