Forums

A Forum is a web application that allows Internet users to read other user's comments on topics of interest and reply to them. When users make comments, the comments are posted on the Forum web page (with posts to each thread being usually listed in chronological order, unlike blogs, which are posted with the most recent entry first). Threads, however, are listed in the opposite manner, which allows the latest and most popular Threads to pop up at the top of the list.

Each time a Forum visitor, member, or moderator submits a comment, this is known as a Post. Listed next to each Post is the time, author's name, and the author's details (such as an avatar or picture). Forums are organized by Threads, which are lists of individual posts grouped together by subject. The most recently-updated Threads are listed at the top of the list of Threads. Each time someone makes a Post on a Thread, that Thread hops to the top of the list. Exceptions are Threads that are "stickeyed" which always stay at the top of the list (sticky threads have been pinned to the top of the list by forum moderators or administrators). Deliberately Posting on a thread just to push it to the top of the list is known as "bumping" or "a bump."

Unlike chat rooms or instant messaging, Forum visitors don't have to be online at the same time to read one another's comments. The forum moderator (such as a company employee or the website's owner) moderates the discussion, answers questions, responds to complaints, and is responsible for keeping the Forum spam-free. Forums allow the Moderators different levels of veto or editing power (there can be several ranks of Moderators, with the highest-ranking having the most power).

Because Forums attract special interest groups (such as home repair experts, or pet lovers, or singles seeing companionship), forums help advertising and marketing professionals track trends and customer opinions.

Forums are often called "online discussion groups."