subfórum

Subfórum, or subforum, is a subdivision of an online forum intended for discussions on a specific topic within a larger community. A subfórum contains threads and replies, and is typically governed by its own set of rules and moderators, while remaining part of the overarching forum. Users access subfórums via a hierarchical navigation structure such as categories and subforums; permissions can differ across subforums, controlling who can view, post, or moderate content.

The term comes from sub- (under) and forum. The concept dates to early online discussion boards and is widely used across forum software such as phpBB, vBulletin, and Invision Power Board; many forums organize content in multiple levels: categories, subforums, and threads.

In practice, a subfórum serves to organize discussions around a particular topic, hobby, region, or function (for example Technology, Hardware, Software). Within a subfórum, users create threads that host a sequence of posts. Moderators within the subfórum enforce rules, manage announcements, move or lock threads, and handle reports.

Benefits include easier navigation, reduced noise, and improved searchability, since similar discussions are grouped. However, deep nesting of subforums can complicate discovery, so many communities limit the number of levels and maintain clear naming conventions.

Best practices include descriptive names, consistent structure, clear posting guidelines, appropriate permissions, and regular moderation to keep discussions on topic.