What shape do cocci bacteria have?

Cocci bacteria are classified based on their shape, and they are specifically characterized as spherical or round-shaped organisms. This rounded morphology is a key identifying feature of cocci, distinguishing them from other bacterial forms, such as bacilli, which are rod-shaped, and spirilla, which exhibit a spiral form. The round shape of cocci can occur as single cells or can arrange in various formations, such as clusters, chains, or pairs, depending on how they divide and group together. Recognizing the shape is fundamental in microbiology, particularly in identifying and classifying different types of bacteria during examinations and in practical applications.