A line integral can be:

a) the integral along a space curve defined parametrically (to my knowledge,

this is the ONLY way to define a space curve- because, naturally, z = f(x,y)
would be a surface (in 3D))
b) the integral of a scalar field along a certain path C (also referred to as the
path integral)
c) the integral of a vector field along a certain path C

In general, it's of the form:

adl (or a dl if a is a scalar)

The notes below demonstrate how to calculate line

integrals over space curves (parameterized) or over
scalar fields. [All of the examples below are of either
space curves, or the line integrals of scalar fields.] I
will upload notes demonstrating the line integral over
a vector field at a later date.

Some Links to a great resource (I take NO credit):

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/LineInte
gralsPtI.aspx

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/LineInte
gralsPtII.aspx

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcIII/LineInte
gralsVectorFields.aspx