What is qualified immunity for a public official in a civil case?

Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 819 (1982). However, where the official acts in an area where "clearly established rights are not implicated, the public interest may be better served by action taken `with independence and without fear of consequences.' " Id. (citation omitted). Thus, qualified immunity is provided to a public official to protect the official from a civil action for damages, as long as the official's conduct does not violate clearly established federal statutory or constitutional "rights of which a reasonable person would have known." Id. at 818.