For self help in the labor relations context, see self help.

Broadly, a contract provision that permits one party to withhold or suspend its own performance or take some other action for its own benefit if the other party breaches the contract or on other specified conditions. For example, a services agreement may provide that the customer is entitled to offset service credits from its payment to the vendor if the vendor fails to deduct the amount of the credits from its invoiced fees. Alternatively, a contract may include provisions that expressly prohibit self-help remedies by one or both parties.

For information technology contracts, the term "electronic self-help," "technical self-help," or "self-help code" refers to a component or device within a computer software application that enables the software provider to automatically take self help (for example, by suspending or terminating access to the application) to enforce applicable license or other agreement restrictions (such as a maximum number of concurrent users or payment of license fees) against the customer or user. A contract for the sale or license of software may include provisions that either expressly permit or prohibit electronic self help, which may be considered malware.

In the context of real estate, a self-help mechanism is a remedy that can apply to: