Debate or argumentation is a communication process where participants argue for and against a given topic, with one team declared the winner. There are two main kinds of debate: informal debate, which does not require strict rules or formats and can occur in business meetings, self-debates, or online discussions; and formal debate, which follows strict rules and formats and includes academic debates where participants research an announced topic in advance. Formal debates involve teams taking affirmative or negative positions on a proposition in front of judges and an audience.