Scoreboard

A scoreboard is a device or system used to display the score and other information related to a game or competition. It provides real-time updates to players, officials, and spectators and helps regulate the progress of play by showing the current score, time remaining, period or inning, and other status indicators. Depending on the sport, a scoreboard may also display fouls, penalties, timeouts, possession indicators, or shot clocks.

Scoreboards come in several forms. Manual scoreboards rely on human operators to update signs, boards, or cards. Electronic scoreboards use light-emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), or other digital displays, and are typically controlled from a dedicated booth or through centralized software. Modern systems often connect to timing devices, game clocks, and stats feeds, allowing automatic updates and integration with broadcast graphics or online scoreboards. Display configurations can vary by venue, with portable scoreboards also used for practice facilities or smaller events.

Use and context: Scoreboards are common in professional, collegiate, and youth sports, as well as gymnasiums for basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and other events. They may also be used for trivia contests, exhibitions, or esports events where real-time scoring and status information is needed. In a broader sense, the term scoreboard is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to the visible tally of successes or outcomes in a project or competition.