In each match of the individual events, athletes compete head-to-head in a best-of-five set, or “end” format, similar to tennis. In each set, both athletes shoot three arrows each. In team events, each match is a maximum of four sets with six arrows per set (two per athlete). Each team is allotted two minutes to shoot an end of six arrows. For the mixed team events, each match is a maximum of four sets with four arrows per set, two per athlete.

Recurve is the only accepted form of archery used at the Olympics, meaning archers can only use a recurve bow to compete. 

In the individual events, the athlete with the highest score at the end of each set gets two points. If a set is tied, both athletes receive one point. The first athlete to reach six points (i.e. win three sets) wins the match.

If at the end of five sets there is a tie, a single arrow shoot-off is held. The athlete who was ranked higher is first to begin the shoot-off. The athlete closest to the center X wins. If both athletes shoot a 10, another shoot-off is required. If no winner is decided, the process repeats until a winner is named. In each end, an athlete has 20 seconds to shoot their arrow when it's their turn.

For team events, each team is allotted two minutes to shoot an end of six arrows. By winning an end of six arrows, the team receives two points. If both teams earn the same score, both teams earn one point. The first team to win five set points wins the match.

In the mixed team events, each team is allowed 80 seconds to shoot four arrows. By winning an end of six arrows, the team receives two points. If both teams earn the same score, both teams earn one point. The first team to win five set points wins the match.

If it is tied, then there is a shoot-off of one arrow per athlete. The team with the highest score wins the match. If it is still tied, the arrow closest to the center shall determine the winner.

There are five archery events at the Paris Olympics:

• Men's individual
• Women's individual
• Men's team
• Women's team
• Mixed team Event

Each single-gender team consists of three archers. Each mixed-gender team consists of one man and one woman. 

At the start of the event, teams are ranked based on the combined scores of the two archers during the ranking round. Teams are then seeded into a single-elimination bracket. All events are contested under the FITA-approved 70m distance and rules. 

In individual competition, there is a field of 64 individuals; in the team competition, there is a field of 16 teams.

There is a ranking round before moving on to the Olympic round, which is played in a tournament format. 

All five archery events begin with the same ranking round. This round is used to seed athletes for the five medal events. In the ranking round, athletes are competing for total points. In other stages of the competition, athletes compete in a head-to-head format, similar to tennis. 

Ranking Round

• 128 archers (64 men and 64 women) compete in this preliminary phase
• The ranking round is used to determine seedings for both the individual and the team competitions. In the ranking round, archers shoot 72 arrows at a target 70 meters away in 12 ends (groupings) of six arrows each. A perfect score is 720.
• Each athlete has two minutes to shoot six arrows in each end.
• These rankings are used to seed competitors in the next stage of competition