Competition formats refer to the structured ways in which contests or tournaments are organized. They can vary widely, including formats like single elimination, where participants are eliminated after a single loss, or round-robin, where each participant competes against all others. These formats help determine winners in a fair and systematic manner. Another common format is pool play, where participants are divided into smaller groups, and the top performers from each group advance to the next stage. Additionally, some competitions may use a bracket system, allowing for a visual representation of matchups and progress. Each format has its own advantages and is chosen based on the nature of the competition.