HN

Hacker News, abbreviated HN, is a social news website focused on computer science, startups, and technology. It is run as part of Y Combinator and operates at news.ycombinator.com. Users submit links or text posts with headlines, which other users vote on and discuss in comments. The site is known for concise, technical discourse and a minimalist interface.

HN was launched in 2007 by Paul Graham and members of the Y Combinator founders’ circle. It began as a simple platform for YC-related news and programming content and evolved into a broader technology and entrepreneurship forum. The site has retained a plain, text-driven design and a strong emphasis on content quality over form.

Content is organized by submission with a headline and optional URL or text body. Submissions accrue upvotes; the most upvoted items surface on the front page and in topic-specific pages such as Show HN (user showcases) and Ask HN (user questions). Discussion is threaded and often technical. The interface remains intentionally minimal to prioritize content.

HN is reputed as a high-signal filter for tech and startup topics, often used by developers and founders to gauge industry interest. The tone can be direct and blunt, and comment threads can be lengthy and detailed. Moderation is community-driven with a set of guidelines and some automated and human moderation.

Beyond news, Hacker News functions as a social hub that accelerates visibility for new projects, research, and writing in the tech ecosystem. It has influenced tech journalism and startup culture and has inspired various client apps and mirrors, though the official site remains the primary source for content.