An '''Internet forum''', or '''message board''', is an online discussion site 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. |accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref> They differ from [[chat rooms]] in that messages are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user and/or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes visible.

An '''Internet forum''', or '''message board''', is an online discussion site 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. |accessdate = 2008-09-01}}</ref> They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user and/or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes visible.

Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; e.g. A single conversation is called a 'thread'.  

Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; e.g. A single conversation is called a 'thread'.  

A forum is hierarchical or 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 wish to.

A forum is hierarchical or 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 wish to.

Depending on the forum set-up, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently [[login|log in]] in order to post messages. Usually you do not have to log in to read existing messages.

Depending on the forum set-up, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently login in order to post messages. Usually you do not have to log in to read existing messages.

==History==

==History==

The modern forum originated from [[bulletin board]]s, and are a technological evolution of the dialup [[bulletin board system]].<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) |accessdate=2008-11-04 }}</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 |accessdate= 2008-04-28}}</ref> <!-- IT definition -->From a technological standpoint, ''forums'' or ''boards'' are [[web application]]s managing [[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 |accessdate=2008-04-28 |work=Brevard User's Group }}</ref> <!-- short intuitive description -->

The modern forum originated from bulletin boards, and are a technological evolution of the dialup bulletin board system.<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) |accessdate=2008-11-04 }}</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 |accessdate= 2008-04-28}}</ref> <!-- IT definition -->From a technological standpoint, ''forums'' or ''boards'' are web applications managing 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 |accessdate=2008-04-28 |work=Brevard User's Group }}</ref> <!-- short intuitive description -->

Early Internet forums could be described as a web version of an [[electronic mailing list]] or [[newsgroup]] (such as 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"/>  

Early Internet forums could be described as a web version of an electronic mailing list or newsgroup (such as 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 with over two million per day on their largest forum, [[2channel]]. China also has many millions of posts on forums such as [[Tianya Club]].

Internet forums are prevalent in several developed countries. Japan posts the most with over two million per day on their largest forum, 2channell. China also has many millions of posts on forums such as Tianya Club.

Forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up [[bulletin board system]]s and [[Usenet]] networks that were first created starting 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=WIT - WWW Interactive Talk |accessdate=1995-05 |publisher=W3 Consortium}}</ref> project from W3 Consortium and starting from 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 |accessdate=2010-12-24 |publisher=Forum Software Reviews}}</ref> A sense of [[virtual community]] often develops around forums that have regular users. [[Technology]], [[computer game]]s and/or [[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.

Forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up bulletin board systems and Usenet networks that were first created starting 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=WIT - WWW Interactive Talk |accessdate=1995-05 |publisher=W3 Consortium}}</ref> project from W3 Consortium and starting from 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 |accessdate=2010-12-24 |publisher=Forum Software Reviews}}</ref> A sense of virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, computer games and/or video games, sports, 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 macros popular across the Internet are abundant and widely used in Internet forums.