Sets, reps and rest, explained
Read a workout confidently before you press start.
One movement, then a group
A repetition, or rep, is one complete movement: lower into a squat and stand back up. A set is a group of repetitions before a break. Three sets of eight means eight reps, a rest, then two more sets.
A timed interval asks you to work for a duration instead. Thirty seconds is time to practice controlled movement, rather than a race to fit in as many reps as possible.
How OpenWorkout counts
A round takes you through the workout list once. Three rounds repeat that list three times. For alternating movements, the displayed rep target is the total across both sides; divide timed intervals evenly between sides. When a step explicitly names Left or Right, complete the full target on that side.
Rest is part of the session. Pause for longer if you need time to recover, change equipment or prepare your next movement. You can finish a set before the target when your technique changes.
Read more from the sources.
General education, not an individual training prescription.
Put it into practice