- Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbors dies (underpopulation)
- Any live cell with two or three live neighbors lives
- Any live cell with more than three live neighbors dies (overpopulation)
- Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbors becomes alive (reproduction)
- Still Lifes: Patterns that don't change from one generation to the next
- Oscillators: Patterns that repeat in a cycle (Blinker, Toad, Beacon, Pulsar)
- Spaceships: Patterns that translate across the grid (Glider, LWSS)
- Methuselahs: Small patterns that evolve for many generations (R-pentomino, Diehard, Acorn)
- Guns: Patterns that produce other patterns indefinitely (Glider Gun)