Capture The Flag Competitions

New to Capture The Flag? Here's the deal.

A cybersecurity capture the flag (CTF) is a legal competition built around security problems. Each Challenge has an answer called a flag. Investigate the clues, find it, and submit it for points. HTB CTF hosts timed events with different themes, categories, and levels. The event page tells you what to expect before you sign up.

Challenge type	What you're doing	A good first move
Web	Inspect how a web app behaves and look for a weakness.	Start with an introductory web Challenge.
Cryptography	Work through encrypted data and cryptographic puzzles.	Follow the clues and test one idea at a time.
Forensics	Examine files or other evidence to reconstruct activity.	Take notes on what each artifact reveals.
Reversing and pwn	Understand program behavior or exploit a binary.	Build the basics, then try a focused Challenge.
Machines and larger scenarios	Connect clues and techniques across a live environment.	Read the event description and expected level first.

The mix changes from event to event.

Got stuck? Good.

Now you know what to practice.

That web Challenge you nearly solved can point you toward the next skill to build. Learn a concept step by step in HTB Academy. Work through less-guided problems in HTB Labs. Then bring what you've learned back to a CTF, where the clock is running and no one tells you which tool to use next.

Take the note. Make the next attempt count.

Explore HTB Academy Practice in HTB Labs

ACADEMY Learn the concept with guidance.

LABS Work it out on your own.

CTF Bring it into the arena.

Can beginners play an HTB CTF?

Absolutely. Start with CTF Try Out to learn how teams, Challenges, flags, and submissions work. Then check each live event's theme and expected difficulty. You don't have to solve everything to get something out of your first run.

Can I play solo?

Yes, where an event's rules allow it. HTB CTF supports solo and team play, and each event sets its own team size and eligibility.

What kinds of Challenges will I find?

Events can include web, cryptography, forensics, reversing, pwn, Machines, and larger scenarios. The categories vary, so check the event page for the actual lineup.

What's a flag?

A flag is a specific piece of text (usually a string of characters) hidden within a Challenge. It's the correct answer you're trying to find by solving the Challenge. Once you discover it, submit it on the event platform to earn points according to that event's rules.

Is it free to join?

CTF Try Out is free, and many HTB-run public events are free. Check the event page for current access terms, eligibility, and any special requirements. There is no standing HTB CTF player subscription.

Where can I learn before I compete?

Use CTF Try Out for the event flow. HTB Academy teaches concepts with guidance, while HTB Labs gives you room for independent practice. Bring those skills into your next CTF.

Is this a legal place to practice hacking?

Yes. Stay within the event rules and the environments provided for its Challenges. Systems outside that scope are off limits.