Fórum

Fórum is a term used in several languages, rooted in Latin forum, meaning a public place where business, politics, and social life occurred. In many Romance languages, it denotes a public square or assembly area, and in legal or administrative contexts it can refer to the venue of proceedings. In modern usage it is also applied to online discussion platforms.

In ancient Rome, the Forum Romanum, or Roman Forum, was the center of public life, hosting temples, basilicas, markets, courts, and political activity. Other civic spaces called forums served similar purposes as hubs for commerce, law, and governance across the empire.

In contemporary usage, fórum can denote either a physical space for public discourse or a legal venue. In Brazilian Portuguese, fórum commonly refers to a courthouse or the judiciary; the term conveys the concept of a court or legal proceedings.

Online, a forum is a website or service where users post messages in threads to discuss topics. Forums are categorized, may require user registration, and are moderated to enforce rules. Common forum software includes phpBB, vBulletin, and Discourse.

Fórum is a concept that spans physical, legal, historical, and digital spaces, reflecting the enduring role of public discussion and adjudication in society.