I want to find out as I figuring out which style I should lean toward.

There are basic two-person drills that emphasize repeating a single technique over and over.

There are reaction/timing drills designed to instill the actions used to counter attacks.

There are longer, two-person matched "forms" that teach strategy, awareness of distance and timing.

And there are many free fighting drills that are contact sparring within certain parameters (which force the student to focus on particular aspects of the fight).

Finally, there is contact free-sparring.