Hero or Heroine. The most common type of protagonist is one who undertakes some kind of heroic journey, overcoming adversity to accomplish a noble goal of some kind. There's often danger, some kind of sacrifice, and heroic protagonists often undertake their journey on behalf of others or the common good rather than their own self interests. Indiana Jones is a quintessential heroic character; regardless of the situation he finds himself in, he always strives to do the right thing.

Antihero or Antiheroine. Antiheroes lack the typical qualities found in archetypal heroes. They may not have noble intentions or may not be particularly moral in their actions, although they often ultimately have a heroic arc. The Punisher from the Marvel Comics is a great example of an antihero; he has good intentions (getting rid of bad guys), but is just as brutal and violent as the bad guys he seeks to punish.

Villain. While villains are primarily the antagonists opposing heroic protagonists, they can also be the protagonists of their own stories. A common trope of this kind of story is to tell a familiar story from the villain's perspective, how the villain came to be so villainous, or to have the villain's pursuit of their goal mirror a hero's journey trying to accomplish a noble goal. The Broadway musical Wicked is a popular version of this kind of story.

Supporting. A supporting protagonist is less frequent than the other types of protagonists, and usually reserved for stories where the protagonist plays a minor or supporting role compared to other characters in the story. The Great Gatsby is an excellent example of this kind of protagonist, as Nick Carraway is most often an observer of the events that happen around him.