boardandthread

Boardandthread is a term used to describe an online discussion platform organized into boards and threads. It refers to a generic architectural model rather than a specific product, and can apply to a variety of forum-style systems.

In this model, a board serves as a topical container for related discussions. Within each board, users create threads that initiate conversations on a particular topic. Posts are then added to threads in a roughly chronological order, with replies often linked to or quoted from earlier messages. Navigation typically involves moving between boards, selecting threads, and scrolling through posts. Many implementations support search, tagging, and filtering to help users locate relevant discussions.

Common features of boardandthread systems include user accounts or optional anonymous posting, message editing and deletion, and moderation tools. Moderators enforce community guidelines, manage user access, lock or merge threads, move content between boards, and remove violations. Additional capabilities may include post approvals, reporting mechanisms, profanity filters, and archival or export options for long-running discussions.

Historically, the board-and-thread model traces to early bulletin boards and Usenet-style forums and has since evolved into a wide range of web-based and mobile platforms. Variants range from traditional text-based forums to imageboards and hybrid systems, with differences in anonymity, moderation intensity, and organizational emphasis.

Related concepts include forums, bulletin board systems, and imageboards. Boardandthread representations emphasize structured topics (boards) and linear or threaded discussions (threads) as the core organizational units.