Forum
Also called: discussion forum, internet forum or web forum
A forum is a place, event or medium where ideas and insights on a particular topic can be exchanged. Forum is Latin for annual fair or market or a place where law is spoken.
Expert Forum
One possible form of a forum is a group of experts who engage in discussion with each other and with spectators during an event.
Internet Forum
More generally, the meaning of an online community is for discussion. The individual conversations in an online forum are also called topics or threads. There are often several subforums where topics are organized by (sub)topic. The forum software allows visitors to the forum website to register to start new threads or respond in existing threads.
In order to manage discussions on a forum, moderators are generally appointed. These can address users who do not abide by written or unwritten house rules and, where necessary, edit or delete posts and close discussions. If there is another layer of users above these moderators, they are generally referred to as administrators. For repeated violations, users may be banned.
Many Internet forums are independent, intended to connect users with, for example, because of affinity with a particular topic. Forums can also be used by companies. An example of an application is the creation of a support community, where customers with questions or problems can help each other. Often employees are also active here, acting as moderators to lead the discussion and possibly respond from within the organization.
