Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe members until only one final contestant remains and wins the title of "Sole Survivor." The format for Survivor was created in 1992 by British television producer Charlie Parsons.

The following description of the show is based primarily on the American version of Survivor, though the general format applies to all international versions.

The show strands from sixteen to twenty strangers in a remote tropical location divided into two to four teams called tribes. According to the show's host, Jeff Probst, while it is preferential to use sixteen contestants to make it easier to distribute genders across tribes and to give the viewers fewer contestants to remember, at times there have been eighteen- and twenty-player seasons to allow for "wiggle room" in case players quit or are removed due to injury. Depending on the season, tribes are given a minimal number of tools with which to survive. These tools have included a machete, a pot, and water canteens to hold water from sources that vary each season. Tribes are encouraged to build shelters to protect themselves from the elements and to forage on the local flora and fauna for nourishment. In some seasons, tribes have started with food supplies (typically rice) provided by the show, while in other seasons tribes have been given no additional help at the start of the game. Earlier seasons allowed players to carry one luxury item with them. Several seasons have brought the players into the game without preparation, making them start with only the clothes on their backs along with whatever tools are provided. In this case players will often be given their running shoes for safety reasons.