Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority of a higher court to review and potentially overturn the decisions made by lower courts. This type of jurisdiction focuses on the interpretation of law rather than the factual evidence of a case, allowing appellate courts to assess whether legal procedures were followed correctly and if the law was applied appropriately. Appeals can arise from various types of cases, including civil and criminal matters, and are usually limited to specific legal issues rather than re-evaluating all aspects of a case.