A standard snooker frame starts with 22 balls, including the cue ball.
The set consists of 15 reds, six colours and one white cue ball. The coloured balls are yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. Together, these make 21 object balls, while the cue ball is the ball the player strikes with the cue.
The total changes during play because potted reds are removed, while colours are generally respotted during the red-and-colour phase. Once all reds are gone, the six colours are cleared in order of value and are not replaced. The cue ball remains in use unless it is potted or driven off the table, which results in a foul and a ball in hand for the opponent.
The number 22 applies to the standard 15-red game. Six-red snooker begins with fewer object balls, so its starting total is different.