What is a thread? Easily explained
Especially when you are in various Internet forums, you often read the term "thread". But what exactly is a thread? In this practical tip you will find a simple and understandable explanation.
What is a thread?
The term "thread" is English and literally means "thread". This refers to the structure.
- Internet forums are used to name topics about which members can exchange ideas. A user opens a thread with a question or topic and other users can answer it. A thread is always arranged hierarchically. The first post is at the top, all others follow below. Hence the translation "thread" - a thread runs like a thread from top to bottom.
- You can find a thread on social networks but also in "normal" forums. A thread consists of several posts - i.e. the opinions of the individual users.
- To simplify communication, each thread has a subject. So the user can see what is being discussed.
- In order to write your own post under the thread, you have to be registered in most forums. However, this registration is often free of charge.
- During the discussion, users must adhere to the rules set by the operator of the website (often called "netiquette" or forum rules).
- These are enforced and checked by site moderators and administrators. Violations can lead to exclusion from the forum.
- Important threads can be pinned on by the administration of the forum, so that they are permanently pinned on the top of the respective page. Among other things, this provides an overview.
- Contributors or officials of the forum, for example administrators, are shown in different colors in the individual posts than the other users so that they are clearly recognizable.
In two more practical tips, we will show you how you can create a free form and which forum software is the best.