bulletinboard

A bulletin board is a surface or digital platform for posting notices and messages intended for a local community or wider audience. Physical bulletin boards are common in schools, workplaces, libraries, and public buildings, typically a cork or magnetic board where notices are pinned or taped. Digital equivalents include online bulletin board systems, forums, and other web-based portals where users can post messages, announcements, and files.

Physical boards organize content by location or topic, with sections for events, job postings, regulations, or news. Postings are usually temporary and governed by local rules; notices are typically removed when outdated or superseded. Accessibility features and clear dates help readers determine relevance.

Digital bulletin boards originated with early computer networks and evolved into bulletin board systems in the late 1970s and 1980s, allowing users to dial in via telephone lines, post messages, exchange files, and later browse categorized forums. Modern variants are hosted on websites or within campus or corporate intranets, and may include tagging, search, moderation, and private messaging. They commonly support threads or topics, user accounts, and simple file attachments.

In contemporary usage, bulletin board can refer to any centralized place for announcements, including community portals, school notice pages, or discussion forums. While the term covers a wide range of formats, the core function remains the same: to disseminate information to a defined audience in an accessible, organized manner.