Shooter

Shooter is a noun describing a person or device that shoots. It can refer to someone who operates a firearm, an instrument that expels a projectile, or, more loosely, a person who takes aim in a given situation. The term is used in military, law enforcement, sports, media, and entertainment contexts.

In firearms contexts, a shooter is any person who fires a gun. This includes military personnel, police officers, hunters, and civilian hobbyists. Safety training, licensing, and legal restrictions govern the use of firearms in most jurisdictions, and professional shooting activities emphasize control, discipline, and accuracy.

Shooting sports are organized competitions that test marksmanship with rifles, pistols, or shotguns. Competitors are called shooters, and events range from precision target shooting to rapid-fire disciplines and shotgun sports such as trap and skeet. Rules and equipment standards are administered by national and international federations.

In photography and filmmaking, shooting refers to capturing still images or recording moving images. A photographer or cinematographer may be colloquially described as a shooter, and the term shoot denotes the planned session of photography or filming.

In video games, the term shooter describes a genre focused on combat with ranged weapons. The main subgenres are first-person shooters, which present the action through the player's on-screen perspective, and third-person shooters, which show the character from an external viewpoint. These games emphasize aiming, movement, and tactical decision making.