Which real property right involves the use of another's land for a specific purpose, such as a pathway?

The correct answer is an easement, which is a real property right that allows one party to use a portion of another party's land for a specific purpose. For example, a pathway or a road that crosses over someone else's property is an easement. This right is typically formalized through legal documentation and is often recorded to ensure that future owners of the land are aware of the easement.

Easements can serve various purposes, including access to land or utility lines, and they persist even when the ownership of the land changes. They are distinguished from other uses of property, such as leaseholds, which involve renting or leasing an entire property for a specified period and under specific terms.

In contrast, licenses grant permission to use land without conveying any ownership rights, and typically can be revoked at any time. Encroachments involve the unauthorized intrusion of one property owner onto another's property, which does not confer any legal rights to use the land in the way that easements do. Thus, the easement specifically captures the essential concept of a defined use of another's land for a particular purpose, making it the correct choice in this context.