View source for Internet forum

{{Short description|Website for online discussions}}
[[File:Phpbb 3.0 prosilver.png|thumb|right|300px|An Internet forum powered by [[phpBB]]]]
[[File:FUDforum.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[FUDforum]], another Internet forum software package]]
[[File:WikipediaVillagePump2025.png|thumb|Wikipedia's Internet Forum, The Wikipedia Village Pump, as of 2025]]
An '''Internet forum''', or '''message board''', is an '''online discussion platform''' where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.<ref name="vBfaqFORUM">{{cite web |title=vBulletin Community Forum - FAQ: What is a bulletin board?|url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_forums_threads_posts |publisher=vBulletin.com |quote=A bulletin board is an online discussion site. It is sometimes also called a 'board' or 'forum'. It may contain several categories, consisting of sub-forums, threads and individual posts. |access-date=2008-09-01 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115211910/https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_forums_threads_posts |url-status=live}}</ref> They differ from [[chat room]]s in that messages are often longer than one line of text, and are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes publicly visible.

Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; for example, a single conversation is called a "[[#Thread|thread]]", or ''topic''. The name comes from the [[Forum (Roman)|forums]] of Ancient Rome.

A discussion forum is hierarchical or 
[[Tree (data structure)|tree-like]] in structure; a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread and can be replied to by as many people as they so wish.

Depending on the forum's settings, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently [[login|log in]] to post messages. On most forums, users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

==History==
{{See also|Web 2.0#History|Blog#History|Wiki#History}}
The modern forum originated from [[bulletin board]]s and so-called computer conferencing systems, which are a technological evolution of the dial-up [[bulletin board system]] (BBS).<ref name="bbsref">{{cite web |url=http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/internet-communities-and-forums-2/what-is-an-internet-forum |title=What is an 'Internet forum'? (video entry by Ethan Feerst and Dylan Stewart group) |access-date=2008-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011092536/http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/internet-communities-and-forums-2/what-is-an-internet-forum |archive-date=2008-10-11 }}</ref><ref name="Glossary Of Technical Terms">{{cite news |title=Glossary Of Technical Terms |url=http://www.greenwebdesign.com/Glossary-Of-Technical-Terms.htm |work=Green Web Design |access-date=2008-04-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507024349/http://www.greenwebdesign.com/Glossary-Of-Technical-Terms.htm |archive-date=2008-05-07 }}</ref> <!-- IT definition -->From a technological standpoint, ''forums'' or ''boards'' are [[web application]]s that manage [[user-generated content]].<ref name="Glossary Of Technical Terms"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bugclub.org/glossary.html |title=Brevard User's Group - Technical Glossary |access-date=2008-04-28 |work=Brevard User's Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421205816/http://bugclub.org/glossary.html |archive-date=2008-04-21 }}</ref> <!-- short intuitive description -->

Early Internet forums could be described as a web version of an [[electronic mailing list]] or [[Usenet newsgroup|newsgroup]] (such as those that exist on [[Usenet]]), allowing people to post messages and comment on other messages. Later developments emulated the different newsgroups or individual lists, providing more than one forum dedicated to a particular topic.<ref name="bbsref"/>

Internet forums are prevalent in several [[Developed country|developed countries]]. Japan posts the most,{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} with over two million per day on their largest forum, [[2channel]]. China also has millions of posts on forums such as [[Tianya Club]].

Some of the first forum systems were the Planet-Forum system, developed at the beginning of the 1970s; the [[Electronic Information Exchange System|EIES system]], first operational in 1976; and the [[:sv:KOM-systemet|KOM system]], first operational in 1977. In 1979 students from Duke University created an online discussion platform with [[Usenet]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wang|first1=Mo|title=The Oxford Handbook of Retirement|date=2012|publisher=OUP USA|isbn=9780199746521|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GuqFh1Ff3rgC&pg=PA494|accessdate=26 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>

One of the first forum sites (which is still active today) is Delphi Forums, once called [[Delphi (online service)|Delphi]]. The service, with four million members, dates to 1983.

Forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up [[bulletin board system]]s and Usenet networks that were first created in the late 1970s.<ref name="bbsref"/> Early web-based forums date back as far as 1994, with the WIT<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.w3.org/WIT/ |title=World-Wide Web Interactive Talk|publisher=W3C |access-date=2011-01-21 |archive-date=2011-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103170047/http://www.w3.org/WIT/ |url-status=live}}</ref> project from the W3 Consortium, and starting at this time, many alternatives were created.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forum-software.org/forum-software-timeline-from-1994-to-today |title=Forum Software Timeline 1994 - 2010 |access-date=2010-12-24 |publisher=Forum Software Reviews |archive-date=2011-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127195614/http://www.forum-software.org/forum-software-timeline-from-1994-to-today |url-status=live }}</ref> A sense of [[virtual community]] often develops around forums that have regular users. [[Technology]], [[video game]]s, [[sport]]s, [[music]], [[fashion]], [[religion]], and [[politics]] are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of topics. [[Internet slang]] and [[image macro]]s popular across the Internet are abundant and widely used in Internet forums.

Forum software packages are widely available on the [[Internet]] and are written in a variety of [[programming language]]s, such as [[PHP]], [[Perl]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], and [[Active Server Pages|ASP]]. The configuration and records of posts can be stored in [[text file]]s or in a [[database]]. Each package offers different features, from the most basic, providing text-only postings, to more advanced packages, offering [[multimedia]] support and formatting code (usually known as [[BBCode]]). Many packages can be integrated easily into an existing website to allow visitors to post comments on articles.

Several other web applications, such as [[blog]] software, also incorporate forum features. [[WordPress]] comments at the bottom of a blog post allow for a single-threaded discussion of any given blog post. [[Slash (CMS)|Slashcode]], on the other hand, is far more complicated, allowing fully threaded discussions and incorporating a robust moderation and meta-moderation system as well as many of the profile features available to forum users.

Some stand-alone threads on forums have reached fame and notability, such as the "[[I am lonely will anyone speak to me]]" thread on MovieCodec.com's forums, which was described as the "web's top hangout for lonely folk" by [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'' magazine]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Andrews |first1=Robert |date= |title=wired.com |url=https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2005/06/68010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108052733/https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2005/06/68010 |archive-date=2013-01-08 |access-date=2017-03-07 |magazine=Wired}}</ref> or [[Stevan Harnad]]'s [[Subversive Proposal]].

==Purpose==
Online discussion platforms can engage people in collective reflection and exchanging perspectives and cross-cultural understanding.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Deng|first1=Liping|last2=Chen|first2=Yang-Hsueh|last3=Li|first3=Sandy C.|title=Supporting cross-cultural online discussion with formal and informal platforms: a case between Hong Kong and Taiwan|journal=Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning|date=23 January 2017|volume=12|issue=1|pages=5|doi=10.1186/s41039-017-0050-z|pmid=30613254|pmc=6302850|language=En|issn=1793-7078 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Public display of ideas can encourage intersubjective meaning making.<ref>{{cite book|last1=O'Malley|first1=Claire|title=Computer Support Collaborative Learining Practices: CSCL2009 Conference Proceedings|date=2009|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781615841370|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4smfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA114|accessdate=26 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=December 2017}}

Online discussion platforms may be an important structural means for effective large-scale participation.<ref name=mano/>

===In education===
{{See also|Educational technology|Edutainment|Massive open online course}}
Online discussion platforms can play a role in education.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) Conference 2013, Volume 2|date=23 April 2014 |publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=9781483406671|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ydywBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA157|accessdate=26 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=December 2017}} In recent years, online discussion platform have become a significant part of not only [[distance education]] but also in campus-based settings.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hybrid Learning: Innovation in Educational Practices - 8th {{!}} Simon K.S. Cheung {{!}} Springer|url=https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319206202|accessdate=26 July 2017|language=en|isbn=9783319206202 |last1=Cheung |first1=Simon K. S. |last2=Kwok |first2=Lam-for |last3=Yang |first3=Harrison |last4=Fong |first4=Joseph |last5=Kwan |first5=Reggie |date=29 June 2015 |publisher=Springer }}</ref>

The proposed interactive e-learning community (iELC) is a platform that engages physics students in online and classroom learning tasks. In brief classroom discussions fundamental physics formulas, definitions and concepts are  disclosed, after which students participate in the iELC form discussion and utilize chat and dialogue tools to improve their understanding of the subject. The teacher then discusses selected forum posts in the subsequent classroom session.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Wong|first1=Su Luan|last2=Abu Bakar|first2=Kamariah|title=Qualitative findings of students' perception on practice of self-regulated strategies in online community discussion|journal=Computers & Education|date=1 August 2009|volume=53|issue=1|pages=94–103|doi=10.1016/j.compedu.2008.12.021|url=http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/7650/1/Qualitative%20findings%20of%20students%20perception%20on%20practice%20of%20Self%20regulated%20strategies%20in%20online%20community%20discussion.pdf}}</ref>

Classroom online discussion platforms are one type of such platforms.<ref>{{cite journal|title= Participation, interaction, and academic achievement in an online discussion environment|journal= Computers & Education|volume=84|pages=78–89|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272239937|accessdate=27 July 2017|language=en|doi=10.1016/j.compedu.2015.01.008|year=2015|last1=Zheng|first1=Binbin|last2=Warschauer|first2=Mark}}</ref>

Rose argues that the basic motivation for the development of e–learning platforms is efficiency of scale — teaching more students for less money.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Coopman|first1=Stephanie J.|title=A critical examination of Blackboard's e-learning environment|journal=First Monday|date=17 May 2009|volume=14|issue=6|doi=10.5210/fm.v14i6.2434|url=http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2434/2202|accessdate=26 July 2017|language=en |doi-access= free|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

A study found that learners will enhance the frequencies of course discussion and actively interact with e-learning platform when e-learning platform integrates the curriculum reward mechanism into learning activities.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lan|first1=Yu-Feng|last2=Yang|first2=Chia-Lung|title=2009 IEEE International Conference on Virtual Environments, Human-Computer Interfaces and Measurements Systems |chapter=A practical approach to encourage students participation in asynchronous online discussions based on expectancy theory |pages=271–276|doi=10.1109/VECIMS.2009.5068907|date=May 2009|isbn=978-1-4244-3808-2|s2cid=23457961}}</ref>

===In smart cities===
"City townhall" includes a participation platform for policy-making in [[Rotterdam]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Janssen|first1=Marijn|last2=Kuk|first2=George|last3=Wagenaar|first3=René W.|title=A survey of Web-based business models for e-government in the Netherlands|journal=Government Information Quarterly|date=1 April 2008|volume=25|issue=2|pages=202–220|doi=10.1016/j.giq.2007.06.005}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In 2022, [[United Nations]] reported that D-Agree Afghanistan is used as a digital and smart city solutions in [[Afghanistan]].<ref name=Un2022>{{cite report |title=Regional Commissions report on the progress on the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (2019-2022)|date=2022 |publisher=United Nations |page=19|url=https://www.un.org/ecosoc/sites/www.un.org.ecosoc/files/files/en/2022doc/UNECE-QR-report.pdf}}</ref><ref name=Thetrans2022>{{cite report |title=The Transition of Asian and Pacific Cities to a Sustainable Future:Accelerating Action for Sustainable Urbanization|date=2022 |publisher=Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific|page=23|url=https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/knowledge-products/Regional-Partners-Forum-Outcome-Report-20220318.pdf}}</ref>  D-Agree is a discussion support platform with [[artificial intelligence]]–based facilitation.<ref name=HadfiHaqbeenSahabIto2021>{{cite journal |last1=Hadfi |first1=Rafik |last2=Haqbeen |first2=Jawad |last3=Sahab |first3=Sofia |last4=Ito |first4=Takayuki |date=August 2021 |title=Argumentative conversational agents for online discussions |journal=Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=450–464 |doi=10.1007/s11518-021-5497-1 |pmid=34054250 |pmc=8143987}}</ref> The discussion trees in D-Agree, inspired by [[issue-based information system]], contain a combination of four types of elements: issues, ideas, pros, and cons.<ref name=HadfiHaqbeenSahabIto2021/> The software extracts a discussion's structure in real time based on IBIS, automatically classifying all the sentences.<ref name=HadfiHaqbeenSahabIto2021/>

===Streamlining===
Online discussion platforms may be designed and improved to streamline discussions for efficiency, usefulness and quality. For instance voting, targeted notifications, user levels, [[gamification]], subscriptions, bots, discussion requirements, structurization, layout, sorting, linking, feedback-mechanisms, reputation-features, demand-signaling features, requesting-features, visual highlighting, separation, curation, tools for real-time collaboration, tools for mobilization of humans and resources, standardization, data-processing, segmentation, summarization, moderation, time-intervals, categorization/tagging, rules and indexing can be leveraged in synergy to improve the platform.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

In 2013 Sarah Perez claimed that the best platform for online discussion doesn't yet exist, noting that comment sections could be more useful if they showed "which comments or shares have resonated and why" and which "understands who deserves to be heard".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perez|first1=Sarah|title=The Best Platform For Online Discussion Doesn't Exist Yet|date=22 February 2013 |publisher=TechCrunch|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/02/21/the-best-platform-for-discussion-online-doesnt-exist-yet/|accessdate=27 July 2017}}</ref>

Online platforms don't intrinsically guarantee informed citizen input. Research demonstrates that such spaces can even undermine deliberative participation when they allow hostile, superficial and misinformed content to dominate the conversation (see also: [[Internet troll]], [[shitposting]]). A necessary mechanism that enables these platforms to yield informed citizen debate and contribution to policy is [[deliberation]]. It is argued that the challenge lies in creating an online context that does not merely aggregate public input but promotes informed public discussion that may benefit the policy-making process.<ref name=mano>{{cite journal|last1=Manosevitch|first1=Edith|last2=Steinfeld|first2=Nili|last3=Lev-On|first3=Azi|title=Promoting online deliberation quality: cognitive cues matter|journal=Information, Communication & Society|date=26 November 2014|volume=17|issue=10|pages=1177–1195|doi=10.1080/1369118X.2014.899610|s2cid=145777013|issn=1369-118X}}</ref>

Online citizen communication has been studied for an evaluations of how deliberative their content is and how selective perception and ideological fragmentation play a role in them (see also: [[filter bubble]]).
One sub-branch of online deliberation research is dedicated to the development of new platforms that "facilitate deliberative experiences that surpass currently available options".<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Freelon|first1=Deen|title=Discourse architecture, ideology, and democratic norms in online political discussion|journal=New Media & Society|date=1 May 2015|volume=17|issue=5|pages=772–791|doi=10.1177/1461444813513259|s2cid=37565851|language=en|issn=1461-4448}}</ref>

==Structure==
A forum consists of a tree-like directory structure. The top end is "Categories". A forum can be divided into categories for the relevant discussions. Under the categories are sub-forums, and these sub-forums can further have more sub-forums. The ''topics'' (commonly called ''threads'') come under the lowest level of sub-forums, and these are the places under which members can start their discussions or ''posts''. Logically, forums are organized into a finite set of generic topics (usually with one main topic), driven and updated by a group known as ''members'', and governed by a group known as ''moderators''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is a Forum Moderator? (with pictures)|url=http://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-forum-moderator.htm|access-date=2022-01-25|website=EasyTechJunkie|language=en-US}}</ref> It can also have a graph structure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Debate_tools#Explore-Ideas.com |title=Debate tools |date=5 February 2010 |access-date=2011-03-31 |publisher=LessWrong |archive-date=2011-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306075625/http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Debate_tools#Explore-Ideas.com |url-status=live }}</ref>
All message boards will use one of three possible display formats.
Each of the three basic message board display formats: Non-Threaded/Semi-Threaded/Fully Threaded,
has its own advantages and disadvantages. If messages are not related to one another
at all, a Non-Threaded format is best. If a user has a message topic and multiple
replies to that message topic, a semi-threaded format is best. If a user has a message
topic and replies to that message topic and responds to replies, then a fully threaded
format is best.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bulletinboards.com/ThreadHelp.cfm |title=Non-Threaded vs Semi-Threaded vs Threaded Formats |access-date=2010-05-27 |publisher=BulletinBoards.com |archive-date=2010-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629150243/http://www.bulletinboards.com/ThreadHelp.cfm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===User groups===
Internally, Western-style forums organize visitors and logged-in members into user groups. [[Privilege (computing)|Privileges]] and rights are given based on these groups. A user of the forum can automatically be promoted to a more privileged user group based on criteria set by the administrator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.websitetoolbox.com/message_board/features.html |title=Message Board Features - Website Toolbox |access-date=2009-07-12 |publisher=Website Toolbox |archive-date=2009-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705070624/http://www.websitetoolbox.com/message_board/features.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A person viewing a closed thread as a ''member'' will see a box saying he does not have the right to submit messages there, but a ''moderator'' will likely see the same box, granting him access to more than just posting messages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vb2_manual_cp_usergroups |title=vBulletin Manual: User Groups and Permissions |access-date=2008-11-04 |publisher=vBulletin |archive-date=2006-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022092246/http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vb2_manual_cp_usergroups |url-status=live }}</ref>

An unregistered user of the site is commonly known as a ''guest'' or ''visitor''. Guests are typically granted access to all functions that do not require database alterations or breach privacy. A guest can usually view the contents of the forum or use such features as ''read marking'', but occasionally an administrator will disallow visitors to read their forum as an incentive to become a registered member.<ref group="note">''read marking'' is the process through which a thread, post, or forum that has been viewed is distinguished from those that have not. The function is usually automatic with the addition of controls, like ''Mark All'' etc.</ref> A person who is a very frequent visitor of the forum, a section, or even a thread is referred to as a [[lurker]], and the habit is referred to as ''lurking''. Registered members often will refer to themselves as ''lurking'' in a particular location, which is to say they have no intention of participating in that section but enjoy reading the contributions to it.

====Moderators====
The ''moderators'' (short singular form: "mod") are users (or employees) of the forum who are granted access to the [[#Post|posts]] and [[#Thread|threads]] of all members for the purpose of ''moderating discussion'' (similar to [[arbitration]]) and also keeping the forum clean (neutralizing [[Spamming|spam]] and [[spambot]]s, etc.).<ref name="Administrator seeking moderators to control spam abuse.">{{cite web |access-date=2010-04-20 |publisher=ddforums.com |title=Administrator seeking moderators to control spam abuse. |url=http://www.ddforums.com/showpost.php?p=12566&postcount=9 |archive-date=2010-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507060659/http://www.ddforums.com/showpost.php?p=12566&postcount=9 |url-status=live }}</ref> Moderators also answer users' concerns about the forum and general questions, as well as respond to specific complaints. Common privileges of moderators include: deleting, merging, moving, and splitting of posts and threads, locking, renaming, and [[#Thread|stickying]] of threads; [[Block (Internet)|banning]], unbanning, suspending, unsuspending, warning the members; or adding, editing, and removing the polls of threads.<ref name="vBFAQModAdmin">{{cite web |access-date=2008-09-14 |publisher=vBulletin.com |title=vBulletin FAQ: Moderators and Administrators |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_mods_admins |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717192728/https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_mods_admins |url-status=live }}</ref> "Junior modding", "backseat modding", or "forum copping" can refer negatively to the behavior of ordinary users who take a moderator-like tone in criticizing other members.

Essentially, it is the duty of the moderator to manage the day-to-day affairs of a forum or board as it applies to the stream of user contributions and interactions. The relative effectiveness of this user management directly impacts the quality of a forum in general, its appeal, and its usefulness as a community of interrelated users.

Moderators act as unpaid volunteers on many websites, which has sparked controversies and community tensions. On [[Reddit]], some moderators have prominently expressed dissatisfaction with their unpaid labor being underappreciated, while other site users have accused moderators of abusing special access privileges to act as a "cabal" of "petty tyrants".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chen|first=Adrian|date=2015-07-21|title=When the Internet's 'Moderators' Are Anything But|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/magazine/when-the-internets-moderators-are-anything-but.html|access-date=2021-07-19|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719225931/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/magazine/when-the-internets-moderators-are-anything-but.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On [[4chan]], moderators are subject to notable levels of mockery and contempt. There, they are often referred to as janitors (or, more pejoratively, "jannies"<ref group="note">singular "janny"</ref>) given their job, which is tantamount to cleaning up the imageboards' infamous [[shitposting]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Man Who Helped Turn 4chan Into the Internet's Racist Engine|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-man-who-helped-turn-4chan-into-the-internets-racist-engine/|access-date=2021-07-19|website=Vice.com|date=2 November 2020 |language=en|archive-date=2020-11-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118014552/https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aap8/the-man-who-helped-turn-4chan-into-the-internets-racist-engine|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Administrators====
The ''administrators'' (short form: "admin") manage the technical details required for running the site. As such, they have the authority to appoint and revoke members as [[#Moderators|moderators]], manage the rules, create sections and sub-sections, as well as perform any [[database]] operations ([[Backup|database backup]], etc.). Administrators often also act as [[#Moderators|moderators]]. Administrators may also make forum-wide announcements or change the appearance (known as the skin) of a forum. There are also many forums where administrators share their knowledge.<ref name="vBFAQModAdmin"/>

===Post===
A ''post'' is a user-submitted message enclosed in a block containing the user's details and the date and time it was submitted. Members are usually allowed to edit or delete their own posts. Posts are contained in threads, where they appear as blocks one after another. The first post<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Marone|first=Vittorio|year=2015|title="Keep in mind that I will be improving": The opening post as a request for absolution|journal=Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies|volume=5|issue=1|pages=136–158|doi=10.29333/ojcmt/2499|doi-access=free |issn = 1986-3497 }}</ref> starts the thread; this may be called the TS (thread starter) or OP (original post). Posts that follow in the thread are meant to continue discussion about that post or respond to other replies; it is not uncommon for discussions to be derailed.

On Western forums, the classic way to show a member's own details (such as name and avatar) has been on the left side of the post, in a narrow column of fixed width, with the post controls located on the right, at the bottom of the main body, above the signature block. In more recent forum software implementations, the Asian style of displaying the members' details above the post has been copied.

Posts have an internal limit, usually measured in characters. Often, one is required to have a message with a minimum length of 10 characters. There is always an upper limit, but it is rarely reached – most boards have it at either 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, or 50,000 characters.

Most forums keep track of a user's postcount. The postcount is a measurement of how many posts a certain user has made.<ref name="postcount">{{cite web |access-date=2009-11-11 |publisher=TechnoFyed.com |title=Postcount Information |url=http://www.technofyed.com/showthread.php?tid=219 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043241/http://www.technofyed.com/showthread.php?tid=219 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> Users with higher postcounts are often considered more reputable than users with lower postcounts, but not always. For instance, some forums have disabled postcounts with the hopes that doing so will emphasize the quality of information over quantity.

===Thread===
{{see also|Conversation threading}}
A ''thread'' (sometimes called a ''topic'') is a collection of posts, usually displayed from oldest to latest, although this is typically configurable: Options for newest to oldest and for a threaded view (a tree-like view applying logical reply structure before chronological order) can be available. {{anchor|OP}}A thread is defined by a title, an additional description that may summarize the intended discussion, and an opening or '''original post''' (common abbreviation '''OP''', which can also be used to refer to the '''original poster'''), which opens whatever dialogue or makes whatever announcement the poster wishes. A thread can contain any number of posts, including multiple posts from the same members, even if they are one after the other.

====<span id="Bumping"></span>Bumping====
{{Wiktionary pipe|bump#Noun|bump}}
A thread is contained in a forum and may have an associated date that is taken as the date of the last post (options to order threads by other criteria are generally available). When a member posts in a thread, it will jump to the top since it is the latest updated thread. Similarly, other threads will jump in front of it when they receive posts. When a member posts in a thread for no reason but to have it go to the top, it is referred to as a ''bump'' or ''bumping''. It has been suggested that "bump" is an acronym of "bring up my post";<ref>{{cite web |url=http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/BUMP |title=BUMP |access-date=2010-01-17 |publisher=The Free Dictionary |archive-date=2017-10-18 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018163859/http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/BUMP |url-status=live }}</ref> however, this is almost certainly a [[backronym]], and the usage is entirely consistent with the verb "bump" which means "to knock to a new position".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/bump|title=bump: definition|website=[[Answers.com]]|access-date=2012-12-18|archive-date=2008-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007122533/http://www.answers.com/bump|url-status=live}}</ref>

On some message boards, users can choose to ''sage'' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|a:|g|ei}}, though often {{IPAc-en|s|eɪ|dʒ}}) a post if they wish to make a post but not "bump" it. The word "sage" derives from the [[2channel]] terminology 下げる ''sageru'', meaning "to lower".

====Stickying====
Threads that are important but rarely receive posts are ''stickied'' (or, in some software, "pinned"). A ''sticky thread'' will always appear in front of normal threads, often in its own section. A "threaded discussion group" is simply any group of individuals who use a forum for threaded, or asynchronous, discussion purposes. The group may or may not be the only users of the forum.

A thread's popularity is measured on forums in reply (total posts minus one, the opening post, in most default forum settings) counts. Some forums also track [[Pageview|page views]]. Threads meeting a set number of posts or a set number of views may receive a designation such as "hot thread" and be displayed with a different icon compared to other threads. This icon may stand out more to emphasize the thread. If the forum's users have lost interest in a particular thread, it becomes a ''dead thread''.

{|align=left
|-
|[[File:PhpBB3 topic.png|thumb|left|280px|phpBB Thread (viewing as moderator)]]
|[[File:PhpBB forum.png|thumb|left|280px|phpBB Forum (viewing as moderator)]]
|[[File:TreeExample480px.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Forum (Fully Threaded display format)]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Discussion==
{{more sources|date=June 2024}}
Forums prefer the premise of open and free discussion and often adopt [[de facto standard]]s. The most common topics on forums include questions, comparisons, polls of opinion, and debates. It is not uncommon for nonsense or unsocial behavior to sprout as people lose their temper, especially if the topic is controversial. Poor understanding of the differences in values among the participants is a common problem on forums. Because replies to a topic are often worded to target someone's point of view, discussion will usually go slightly off in several directions as people question each other's validity, sources, and so on. Circular discussion and ambiguity in replies can extend for several tens of posts in a thread, eventually ending when [[Ad nauseam|everyone gives up]] or attention spans waver and a more interesting subject takes over. It is not uncommon for debate to end in ''[[ad hominem]]'' attacks.

=== Liabilities of owners and moderators ===
Several [[lawsuit]]s have been brought against the forums and moderators, claiming [[Defamation|libel]] and damage.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

For the most part, forum owners and moderators in the United States are protected by [[Section 230]] of the [[Communications Decency Act]], which states that "[n]o provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider".

In 2019, [[Facebook]] was faced with a [[class action]] lawsuit set forth by moderators diagnosed with [[post-traumatic stress disorder]]. It was settled for $52 million the following year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newton |first=Casey |date=2020-05-12 |title=Facebook will pay $52 million in settlement with moderators who developed PTSD on the job |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/12/21255870/facebook-content-moderator-settlement-scola-ptsd-mental-health |access-date=2021-07-19 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=2021-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221020655/https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/12/21255870/facebook-content-moderator-settlement-scola-ptsd-mental-health |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Common features==
By default, to be an Internet forum, the web application needs the ability to submit threads and replies. Typically, threads are in a newer to older view, and replies are in an older to newer view.

===Tripcodes and capcodes===
{{Main|Tripcode}}

Most imageboards and 2channel-style discussion boards allow (and encourage) anonymous posting and use a system of tripcodes instead of registration. A tripcode is the hashed result of a password that allows one's identity to be recognized without storing any data about the user.

In a tripcode system, a secret password is added to the user's name following a separator character (often a [[number sign]]). This password, or tripcode, is [[Hash function|hashed]] into a special key, or trip, distinguishable from the name by HTML styles. Tripcodes cannot be faked, but on some types of forum software, they are insecure and can be guessed. On other types, they can be brute-forced with software designed to search for tripcodes, such as Tripcode Explorer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tripcode Explorer - Hurr Network|access-date=2010-08-22|url=http://www.hurrchan.net/wiki/Tripcodes|publisher=Hurrchan/Courtney Wade|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825183203/http://www.hurrchan.net/wiki/Tripcodes|archive-date=2010-08-25}}</ref>

Moderators and administrators will frequently assign themselves capcodes or tripcodes where the guessable trip is replaced with a special notice (such as "# Administrator") or cap.

===Personal message===
{{Main|Personal message}}
A ''personal'' or ''private message'', or PM for short, is a message sent in private from a member to one or more other members. The ability to send so-called [[blind carbon copy|blind carbon copies]] (BCC) is sometimes available. When sending a BCC, the users to whom the message is sent directly will not be aware of the recipients of the BCC or even if one was sent in the first place.<ref group="example">Presuming someone is sending a personal message and has the ability to send a BCC: If someone fills the ''recipient'' field with "John" and "Tom", and the BCC field with "Gordon". John will know Tom got the message. Tom knows John got the message. But, both Tom and John have no clue that Gordon got the message as well.</ref>

Private messages are generally used for personal conversations. They can also be used with tripcodes—a message is addressed to a public trip and can be picked up by typing in the tripcode.

===Attachment===
An attachment can be almost any file. When someone attaches a file to a person's post, they are uploading that particular file to the forum's server. Forums usually have very strict limits on what can be attached and what cannot (among which is the size of the files in question). Attachments can be part of a thread, a social group, etc.

===BBCode and HTML===
{{Main|BBCode}}
[[HTML|HyperText Markup Language]] (HTML) is sometimes allowed, but usually its use is discouraged or, when allowed, extensively filtered. Modern bulletin board systems often have it disabled altogether{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} or allow only administrators to use it, as allowing it at any normal user level is considered a security risk due to the high rate of [[Cross-site scripting|XSS]] vulnerabilities. When HTML is disabled, [[BBCode|Bulletin Board Code]] (BBCode) is the most common preferred alternative. BBCode usually consists of a tag, similar to HTML, but instead of <code>&lt;</code> and <code>&gt;</code>, the tagname is enclosed within square brackets (meaning: <code>[</code> and <code>]</code>). Commonly, <code>[i]</code> is used for [[italic type]], <code>[b]</code> is used for [[Emphasis (typography)|bold]], <code>[u]</code> for [[underline]], <code>[color="value"]</code> for color, and <code>[list]</code> for lists, as well as <code>[img]</code> for images and <code>[url]</code> for links.

The following example BBCode: <code>[b]This[/b] is [i]clever[/i] [b] [i]text[/i] [/b]</code>. When the post is viewed, the code is rendered to HTML and will appear as: '''This''' is ''clever'' '''''text'''''.

Many forum packages offer a way to create Custom BBCodes, or BBcodes that are not built into the package, where the administrator of the board can create complex BBCodes to allow the use of JavaScript or iframe functions in posts, for example, embedding a YouTube or Google Video complete with viewer directly into a post.

===Emoticon===
{{Main|Emoticon}}
An [[emoticon]], or ''smiley'', is a symbol or combination of symbols used to convey emotional content in written or message form. Forums implement a system through which some of the text representations of emoticons (e.g., <code>xD</code>, <code>:p</code>) are rendered as a small image. Depending on what part of the world the forum's topic originates from (since most forums are international), smilies can be replaced by other forms of similar graphics; an example would be [[kaoani]] (e.g., <code>*(^O^)*</code>, <code>(^-^)b</code>), or even text between special symbols (e.g., :blink:, :idea:).

===Poll===
Most forums implement an [[opinion poll]] system for threads. Most implementations allow for single-choice or multi-choice (sometimes limited to a certain number) when selecting options, as well as private or public display of voters. Polls can be set to expire after a certain date or, in some cases, after a number of days from their creation. Members vote in a poll, and a statistic is displayed graphically.

===Other features===
An ''ignore list'' allows members to hide posts of other members that they do not want to see or have a problem with. In most implementations, they are referred to as ''foe list'' or ''ignore list''. The posts are usually not hidden but minimized, with only a small bar indicating a post from the user on the ''ignore list'' is there.<ref name="vBFAQDTU" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f61 |title=PhpBB FAQ: How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list? |publisher=PhpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f61 |url-status=live }}</ref> Almost all Internet forums include a ''member list'', which allows the display of all forum members with an integrated search feature. Some forums will not list members with zero posts, even if they have activated their accounts.

Many forums allow users to give themselves an ''avatar''. An avatar is an image that appears beside all of a user's posts in order to make the user more recognizable. The user may upload the image to the forum database or provide a link to an image on a separate website. Each forum has limits on the height, width, and data size of avatars that may be used; if the user tries to use an avatar that is too big, it may be scaled down or rejected.

Similarly, most forums allow users to define a ''signature'' (sometimes called a ''sig''), which is a block of text, possibly with BBCode, that appears at the bottom of all of the user's posts. There is a character limit on signatures, though it may be so high that it is rarely hit. Often, the forum's moderators impose manual rules on signatures to prevent them from being obnoxious (for example, being extremely long or having flashing images) and issue warnings or bans to users who break these rules. Like avatars, signatures may improve the recognizability of a poster. They may also allow the user to attach information to all of their posts, such as proclaiming support for a cause, noting facts about themselves, or quoting humorous things that have previously been said on the forum.

A ''subscription'' is a form of automated notification integrated into the software of most forums. It usually notifies the member either by email or on the site when the member returns. The option to subscribe is available for every thread while logged in. Subscriptions work with ''read marking'', namely the property of ''unread'', which is given to the content never served to the user by the software.

Recent developments in some popular implementations of forum software have brought ''social network features and functionality''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nodebb.org/|title=NodeBB|website=NodeBB|access-date=2017-10-28|archive-date=2017-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929144241/https://nodebb.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Such features include personal galleries and pages, as well as social networks like [[Online chat|chat]] systems.
Most forum software is now fully customizable, with "hacks" or "modifications" readily available to customize a person's forum to theirs and their members' needs.

Often forums use "[[HTTP cookie|cookies]]", or information about the user's behavior on the site sent to a user's browser and used upon re-entry into the site. This is done to facilitate automatic login and to show a user whether a thread or forum has received new posts since his or her last visit. These may be disabled or cleared at any time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fanforum.com/faq.php?faq=vb_user_maintain#faq_vb_why_register |title=FAQ: User Maintenance |publisher=Fan Forum |access-date=2012-10-31 |archive-date=2012-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022092636/http://www.fanforum.com/faq.php?faq=vb_user_maintain#faq_vb_why_register |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Rules and policies==
Forums are governed by a set of individuals, collectively referred to as ''staff'', made up of ''administrators'' and ''moderators'', which are responsible for the forums' conception, technical maintenance, and policies (creation and enforcing). Most forums have a list of rules detailing the wishes, aim, and guidelines of the forums' creators. There is usually also a [[FAQ]] section containing basic information for new members and people not yet familiar with the use and principles of a forum (generally tailored for specific forum software).

Rules on forums usually apply to the entire user body and often have preset exceptions, most commonly designating a section as an exception. For example, in an [[Information technology|IT]] forum any discussion regarding anything but computer [[programming languages]] may be against the rules, with the exception of a ''general chat'' section.

Forum rules are maintained and enforced by the moderation team, but users are allowed to help out via what is known as a report system. Most Western forum platforms automatically provide such a system.<ref name="vBFAQDTU">{{cite web |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_troublesome_users |title=vBulletin FAQ: Dealing with Troublesome Users |publisher=vBulletin.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115211910/https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_troublesome_users |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f29 |title=phpBB FAQ: How can I report posts to a moderator? |publisher=phpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f29 |url-status=live }}</ref> It consists of a small function applicable to each post (including one's own). Using it will notify all currently available moderators of its location, and subsequent action or judgment can be carried out immediately, which is particularly desirable in large or very developed boards. Generally, moderators encourage members to also use the ''private message'' system if they wish to report behavior. Moderators will generally frown upon attempts of moderation by non-moderators, especially when the would-be moderators do not even issue a report. Messages from non-moderators acting as moderators generally declare a post as against the rules or predict punishment. While not harmful, statements that attempt to enforce the rules are discouraged.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=2008-09-14 |publisher=phpBB.com |title=Community Rules 1c |url=http://www.phpbb.com/rules/#rule1c |quote=Members are asked to not act as 'back seat moderators'. If members note an issue that contravenes something in this policy document they are welcome to bring it to the attention of a member of the Moderator Team. Please use the 'post report' feature to report posts. Do not respond to such topics yourself. Members who constantly 'act' as moderators may be warned. |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913001902/http://www.phpbb.com/rules/#rule1c |url-status=live }}</ref>

When rules are broken several steps are commonly taken. First, a warning is usually given; this is commonly in the form of a ''private message'' but recent development has made it possible for it to be integrated into the software. Subsequent to this, if the act is ignored and warnings do not work, the member is – usually – first exiled from the forum for a number of days. Denying someone access to the site is called a ''ban''. Bans can mean the person can no longer log in or even view the site anymore. If the offender, after the warning sentence, repeats the offense, another ban is given, usually this time a longer one. Continuous harassment of the site eventually leads to a permanent ban. In most cases, this means simply that the account is locked. In extreme cases where the offender – after being permanently banned – creates another account and continues to harass the site, administrators will apply an [[IP address]] ban or block (this can also be applied at the server level): If the IP address is static, the machine of the offender is prevented from accessing the site. In some extreme circumstances, IP address range bans or country bans can be applied; this is usually for political, licensing, or other reasons. See also: [[Block (Internet)]], [[IP address blocking]], and [[Internet censorship]].

Offending content is usually deleted. Sometimes if the topic is considered the source of the problem, it is ''locked''; often a poster may request a topic expected to draw problems to be locked as well, although the moderators decide whether to grant it. In a ''locked thread'', members cannot post anymore. In cases where the topic is considered a breach of rules it – with all of its posts – may be deleted.

===Troll===
{{Main|Troll (Internet)}}
Forum ''trolls'' are users that repeatedly and deliberately breach the [[netiquette]] of an established online community, posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages to bait or excite users into responding or to test the forum rules and policies, and with that the patience of the forum staff. Their provocative behavior may potentially start [[Flaming (Internet)|flame wars]] (see below) or other disturbances. Responding to a troll's provocations is commonly known as 'feeding the troll' and is generally discouraged, as it can encourage their disruptive behavior.

===Sock puppet===
{{Main|Sock puppet account}}
The term sock puppet refers to multiple pseudonyms in use by the same person on a particular message board or forum. The analogy of a sock puppet is of a puppeteer holding up both hands and supplying dialogue to both puppets simultaneously. A typical use of a sockpuppet account is to agree with or debate another sockpuppet account belonging to the same person, for the purposes of reinforcing the puppeteer's position in an argument. Sock puppets are usually found when an [[IP address]] check is done on the accounts in forums.

===Spamming===
{{Main|Forum spam}}
Forum spamming is a breach of netiquette where users repeat the same word or phrase over and over, but differs from multiple posting in that spamming is usually a willful act that sometimes has malicious intent. This is a common trolling technique. It can also be traditional [[Spam (electronic)|spam]], unpaid [[advertisement]]s that are in breach of the forum's rules. Spammers utilize a number of illicit techniques to post their spam, including the use of [[botnets]].

Some forums consider concise, comment-oriented posts spam, for example ''Thank you'', ''Cool'' or ''I love it''.

===Double posting===
{{Redirect|Double post|the PC BIOS double cold boot behaviour|double POST}}
One common ''faux pas'' on Internet forums is to post the same message twice. Users sometimes post versions of a message that are only slightly different, especially in forums where they are not allowed to edit their earlier posts. Multiple posting instead of editing prior posts can artificially inflate a user's post count. Multiple posting can be unintentional; a user's browser might display an error message even though the post has been transmitted or a user of a slow forum might become impatient and repeatedly hit the submit button. An offline editor may post the same message twice. Multiple posting can also be used as a method of [[Troll (Internet)|trolling]] or spreading [[forum spam]]. A user may also send the same post to several forums, which is termed [[crossposting]]. The term derives from Usenet, where crossposting was an accepted practice but causes problems in web forums, which lack the ability to link such posts so replies in one forum are not visible to people reading the post in other forums.

===Necroposting===
{{Expand section|date=October 2024}}
<!--[[Necroposting]] redirects to here. Change its redirect target if the name of this section is changed.-->
A [[wikt:necropost|necropost]] is a message that revives (as in [[necromancy]]) an arbitrarily old thread, causing it to appear above newer and more active threads. This practice is generally seen as a breach of netiquette on most forums. Because old threads are not usually locked from further posting, necroposting is common for newer users and in cases where the date of previous posts is not apparent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Necroposting? |url=https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/n/necropost.htm |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.computerhope.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Word censor===
{{Main|Scunthorpe problem}}
A [[Word filter|word censoring system]] is commonly included in the forum software package. The system will pick up words in the body of the post or some other user-editable forum element (like user titles), and if they partially match a certain keyword (commonly no [[case sensitivity]]) they will be censored. The most common censoring is letter replacement with an [[asterisk]] character. For example, in the user title, it is deemed inappropriate for users to use words such as "admin", "moderator", "leader" and so on. If the censoring system is implemented, a title such as "forum leader" may be filtered to "forum ******". Rude or vulgar words are common targets for the censoring system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vboptions_group_censor |title=Censorship Options |access-date=2008-10-30 |publisher=vBulletin.com |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717192845/https://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vboptions_group_censor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/adminguide/acp_posting.php#acp_posting_censors |title=3.4.5. Word censoring |access-date=2008-10-30 |publisher=PhpBB.com |archive-date=2008-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025073735/http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/adminguide/acp_posting.php#acp_posting_censors |url-status=live }}</ref> But such auto-censors can make mistakes, for example censoring "[[wristwatch|wris'''twat'''ch]]" to "wris****ch", "[[Scunthorpe|S'''cunt'''horpe]]" to "S****horpe or "[[Essex]]" to "Es***".

===Flame wars===
{{Main|Flaming (Internet)}}
When a thread—or in some cases, an entire forum—becomes unstable, the result is usually uncontrolled spam in the form of one-line complaints, [[image macro]]s, or abuse of the report system. When the discussion becomes heated and sides do nothing more than complain and not accept each other's differences in point of view, the discussion degenerates into what is called a ''flame war''. To ''flame'' someone means to go off-topic and attack the person rather than their opinion. Likely candidates for flame wars are usually religion and socio-political topics, or topics that discuss pre-existing rivalries outside the forum (e.g., rivalry between games, console systems, car manufacturers, nationalities, etc.).

When a topic that has degenerated into a flame war is considered akin to that of the forum (be it a section or the entire board), spam and flames have a chance of spreading outside the topic and causing trouble, usually in the form of vandalism. Some forums (commonly game forums) have suffered from forum-wide flame wars almost immediately after their conception, because of a pre-existing ''[[flame war]] element'' in the [[online community]]. Many forums have created devoted areas strictly for discussion of potential flame war topics that are moderated like normal.

===Registration or anonymity===
Many Internet forums require registration to post. Registered users of the site are referred to as ''members'' and are allowed to submit or send electronic messages through the [[web application]]. The process of registration involves verification of one's age (typically age 13 and over is required so as to meet [[COPPA]] requirements of American forum software) followed by a declaration of the [[terms of service]] (other documents may also be present) and a request for agreement to said terms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register |title=vBulletin Community forum - FAQ: Registration |publisher=vBulletin.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2012-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115211910/https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01 |title=phpBB FAQ: Why do I need to register at all? |publisher=phpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07 |title=phpBB FAQ: What is COPPA? |publisher=phpBB.com |access-date=2008-09-14 |archive-date=2008-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913215458/http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07 |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, if all goes well, the candidate is presented with a [[web form]] to fill requesting at the very least a [[username]] (an alias), password, email and validation of a [[CAPTCHA]] code.

While simply completing the registration [[web form]] is in general enough to generate an account,<ref group="note">an account is a space on the site identified by the chosen username through which a member carries out activities and contributes.</ref> the status label ''Inactive'' is commonly provided by default until the registered user confirms the email address given while registering indeed belongs to the user. Until that time, the registered user can log into the new account but may not [[#Post|post]], [[#Thread|reply]], or send [[#Private message|private messages]] in the forum.
[[File:Spacetrace forum.png|thumb|280px|Internet forums are used frequently in conjunction with multiplayer online games.]]

Sometimes a ''referrer system'' is implemented. A ''referrer'' is someone who introduced or otherwise "helped someone" with the decision to join the site (likewise, how a [[HTTP referrer]] is the site who linked one to another site). Usually, referrers are other forum members and members are usually rewarded for referrals. The referrer system is also sometimes implemented so that, if a visitor visits the forum through a link such as <code>referrerid=300</code>, the user with the id number (in this example, 300) would receive referral credit if the visitor registers.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=2008-09-15 |publisher=vBulletin.com |title=vBulletin Options - User registration |url=http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/ |archive-date=2008-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115151441/http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html |url-status=live }}</ref> The purpose is commonly just to give credit (sometimes rewards are implied) to those who help the community grow.

In areas such as [[Japan]], registration is frequently optional and anonymity is sometimes even encouraged.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://archive.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/04/2channel|title=2-Channel Gives Japan's Famously Quiet People a Mighty Voice|magazine=WIRED}}</ref> On these forums, a [[tripcode]] system may be used to allow verification of an [[Personally identifiable information|identity]] without the need for formal registration. People who regularly read the forum discussions but do not register or do not post are often referred to as "lurkers".

==Comparison with other web applications==
[[Electronic mailing list]]s: The main difference between forums and electronic mailing lists is that mailing lists automatically deliver new messages to the subscriber, while forums require the reader to visit the website and check for new posts. Because members may miss replies in threads they are interested in, many modern forums offer an "e-mail notification" feature, whereby members can choose to be notified of new posts in a thread, and [[web feed]]s that allow members to see a summary of the new posts using [[feed aggregator|aggregator]] software. There are also software products that combine forum and mailing list features, i.e. posting and reading via email as well as the browser depending on the member's choice.{{Example needed |s|date=December 2018}}

[[News client|Newsreader]]: The main difference between newsgroups and forums is that additional software, a [[News client]], is required to participate in newsgroups whereas using a forum requires no additional software beyond the [[web browser]].

Shoutboxes: Unlike Internet forums, most shoutboxes do not require registration, only requiring an email address from the user. Additionally, shoutboxes are not heavily moderated, unlike most message boards.

[[Wiki]]: Unlike conventional forums, the original wikis allowed all users to edit all content (including each other's messages). This level of content manipulation is reserved for moderators or administrators on most forums. Wikis also allow the creation of other content outside the [[talk page]]s. On the other hand, [[Blog|weblogs]] and generic content management systems tend to be locked down to the point where only a few select users can post blog entries, although many allow other users to comment upon them. The Wiki hosting site known as [[Wikia]] has two features in operation, known as the Forum and Message Wall. The forum is used solely for discussion and works through editing, while the message wall works through posted messages more similar to a traditional forum.

[[Chat room]]s and [[instant messaging]]: Forums differ from chats and instant messaging in that forum participants do not have to be online simultaneously to receive or send messages. Messages posted to a forum are publicly available for some time even if the forum or thread is closed, which is uncommon in chat rooms that maintain frequent activity.

One rarity among forums is the ability to create a picture album. Forum participants may upload personal pictures onto the site and add descriptions to the pictures. Pictures may be in the same format as posting threads, and contain the same options such as "Report Post" and "Reply to Post".

==See also==
<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
{{Portal|Internet}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[:Category:Wikipedia discussion]]{{snd}}meta category
* [[Active citizenship]]
* [[Argument map]]
* [[Collaborative software]]
* [[Collective problem solving]]
* [[Comparison of civic technology platforms]]
* [[Comparison of Internet forum software]]
* [[Comparison of Q&A sites]]
* [[Criticism of democracy]]
* [[Crowdsourcing]]
* [[Digital Revolution]]
* [[E-governance]]
* [[Godwin's law]]
* [[Group decision-making]]
* [[Ideas bank]]
* [[Internet manipulation]]
* [[Issue tracking system]]
* [[Issue-based information system]]
* [[Knowledge society]]
* [[List of Internet forums]]
* [[Low-information rationality]]
* [[Network governance]]
* [[Online community]]
* [[Online participation]]
* [[Openness]]
* [[Participation (decision making)]]
* [[Participatory culture]]
* [[Public participation]]
* [[Scheduling (computing)]]
* [[Social network]]
* [[Social news website]]
* [[Thread (computing)]]
* [[Transparency (behaviour)]]
* [[Warnock's dilemma]]
{{div col end}}

===Resources===
* [[Active Directory]] (Microsoft-proprietary [[single sign-on]], [[access control|access]], [[Remote desktop|remote]] and [[domain controller|domain]] control service)
* [[Open directory project]] (multi-platform [[ontology]]-based [[open content|open-standard content]] directory
* [[phpBB]] ([[Open-source software|open-source]] code copyrighted platform)

==Notes==
<references group="note"/>

==Examples==
<references group="example"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Internet forums}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20210224180435/https://www.forum-software.org/forum-software-timeline-from-1994-to-today Archived copy of Forum Software Reviews timeline] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060414191355/http://forums.delphiforums.com/ Delphi Forums] (archived)
* [http://people.dsv.su.se/~jpalme/why-people-use-cmc.html Why people like to use Internet forums]

{{Computer-mediated communication}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Internet Forum}}
[[Category:Groupware]]
[[Category:Internet forums| ]]
[[Category:Online chat|Forum]]
[[Category:Social information processing]]