gaze; line of sight; direction one is looking
Refers to where someone is looking or the direction of their eyes. Often used in phrases like 目線をそらす (avert one's gaze) or 目線が合う (meet someone's eyes).
He awkwardly averted his gaze.
point of view; standpoint; perspective
Used when considering something from a particular person's or group's perspective. Common in phrases like 消費者の目線 (consumer's perspective) or 目線に立つ (take someone's standpoint).
line covering someone's eyes (in an edited photo)
Refers to the black bar or line placed over a person's eyes in photographs or videos to obscure their identity. A specialized media term.
She looked away, seeming embarrassed.
カメラ目線で話す練習をした。
I practiced speaking while looking at the camera.
It's important to think from a child's point of view.
This project is designed from the user's perspective.
The suspect's photo had a line covering the eyes.
This product was designed from a child's point of view.
They blurred out the eyes to protect the person's privacy.
Our eyes happened to meet on the train.
視点 is a more abstract term for viewpoint used in analysis or argument, while 目線 keeps a concrete sense of looking from someone's position.
立場 means one's standpoint or position in a situation, while 目線 specifically frames that standpoint as a way of 'seeing' things.
Compound of 目 (eye) and 線 (line). The meaning 'line covering eyes' is a direct extension of the literal components.