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10/10 AnaP says:
A great tool with minor security and spam problems
PhpBB is one of the most used open-source forum software. Because of that is has (...)
10/10 Anonymous says:
Thumbs up
Thumbs up for the developers of phpBB, they managed to create a product that (...)
10/10 Tibby says:
phpBB
What can I say about the best forum software out there? phpBB has a simple, (...)
6/10 Anonymous says:
Bleh
phpBB is way overrated. The best thing it has going for it is it's large user (...)
6/10 Anonymous says:
phpBB is alright
I like phpBB, but I find the lack of updates over the last few years disturbing.
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Be the first to list "phpBB"'s features on the feature list of "Forums".

phpBB

By: phpBB Group

[edit] Brief Description

The leading forum software in php

[edit] Wiki description

Contents
  1. Description
  2. System requirements
  3. Features
  4. Screenshots
    1. Database manager
    2. Website configuration
    3. Templates
    4. Manage Categories
    5. News
    6. Webpages
    7. Filters
    8. Ban emails
  5. Communities
  6. See also

Description

PhpBB is probably the most popular and used forum software as it's released under the GNU GPL License and it's free to use. Its name is an abbreviation of PHP Bulletin Board and its development started in June 2000 by James Atkinson.

The functionality of the forum can be extended using MODs usually used for adding more functionalities or for changing the display of the site. PhpBB is available now in two main versions: 2.0 and 3.0.

System requirements

  • A webserver or a web hosting account running on any Operating System with support for PHP
  • A SQL database: FireBird 2.0 +, MySQL 3.23 +, MS SQL Server 2000 +, Oracle, PostgreSQL 7.x +, SQLite
  • PHP 4.3.3 or above with support for the database
  • Optional, for additional features: zlib Compression support, remote FTP support, XML support, Imagemagick support

Features

The features of the new release candidate, phpBB 3.0, compared with the last stabile version, 2.0:

FeaturephpBB 2.0phpBB 3.0
Basic Features
UTF-8 SupportNoYes
User PreferencesYesYes
ModerationYesYes
AdministrationYesYes
Search Engine spider HandlingNoYes
Unread message trackingYesYes
Private Message SystemYesYes
StatisticsYesYes
Security
Permanent BansYesYes
Temporary Bans (Suspension)NoYes
PermissionsYesYes
Paid Security Code AuditNoYes
Form HandlingYesYes
Type Aware Parameter HandlingNoYes
Type Aware Database LayerNoYes
Password HashingYesYes
Anti-Spam
CAPTCHA Visual ConfirmationYesYes
Flood ControlYesYes
GroupsYesYes
ACLsYesYes
BlacklistYesYes
BanningYesYes
SuspensionsNoYes
WarningsNoYes
User LoggingNoYes
User Post IP LoggingYesYes
Report PostsNoYes
Post ModerationYesYes
Data Management
MySQLYesYes
MSSQL ServerYesYes
MSSQL ODBCYesYes
PostgreSQLYesYes
MS AccessYesNo
OracleNoYes
FirebirdNoYes
SQLiteNoYes
Database (DBMS) BackupsYes (MySQL Only)Yes
Database (DBMS) RestoreYes (MySQL Only)Yes
Post/Topic PruningYesYes
Registration
COPPA RegistrationsYesYes
Limit Registration AttemptsYesYes
Set min/max Username LengthNoYes
Set min/max Password LengthNoYes
Limit username CharsNoYes
Set Password Complexity RequirementsNoYes
Force Password ChangeNoYes
Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usageNoYes
Posting
Topic Display MethodFlatFlat
BBCodeYesYes
Custom BBCode ButtonsNoYes
HTML in postsYesNo
Smilies/EmoticonsYesYes
QuotingYesYes
Quote Multiple PostsNoYes
Formatting ToolbarYesYes
Word CensorsYesYes
Syntax HighlightingNoYes
AttachmentsNoYes (Multiple)
Post DraftsNoYes
PollsYesYes
Multiple Poll Option VotingNoYes
User based Poll TrackingNoYes
Allow/Disallow Vote ChangeNoYes
Beaten-to-Posting ReviewNoYes
Posting PreviewYesYes
Flood ControlYesYes
Attachments
Automatic Image ThumbnailsNoYes
Attachment TypesNoYes
Multiple AttachmentsNoYes
Attachment PlacementNoYes
Caching
Database Query CachingNoYes
Template CachingNoYes
Arbitrary DataNoYes
Manual Cache RefreshingNoYes
Profiles / Memberlist
Custom Profile FieldsNoYes
User Posting StatsYesYes
User Instant MessengersYesYes
User Profile detailsYesYes
Memberlist SearchingNoYes
Disallow Non-Registered User Memberlist ViewingNoYes
Search System
Fulltext NativeYesYes
Customised Topic SearchNoYes
Customised Forum SearchYesYes
MySQL fulltextNoYes
Author SearchYesYes
Advanced SearchYesYes
Unread TopicsYesYes
Active TopicsNoYes
Posts Since Last VisitYesYes
Search Flood ControlYesYes
Forums
CategoriesYesYes
Password Protected ForumsNoYes
Forum Specific StylesNoYes
URL Link Redirect ForumsNoYes
Forum RulesNoYes
SubforumsNoYes
Last PostYesYes
Forum PruningYesYes
Display Active TopicsYesYes
Subscribe to ForumsNoYes
Subscribe to TopicsYesYes
Bookmark TopicsNoYes
Topic SortingNoYes
Post SortingNoYes
Topic Participation TrackingNoYes
Print TopicsNoYes
E-mail TopicsNoYes
User Control Panel
User SignaturesYesYes
User AvatarsYesYes
User RanksYesYes
Users Online ListYesYes
User PreferencesYesYes
User Profile SettingsYesYes
Manage Saved PM/Post DraftsNoYes
Manage BookmarksNoYes
Manage AttachmentsNoYes
Manage Subscribed TopicsNoYes
Custom Profile FieldsNoYes
Friends/Foe ListNoYes
Private Messaging
Additional PM FoldersNoYes
Customisable PM Filter RulesNoYes
Send to Multiple RecipientsNoYes
Send Blind Carbon CopiesNoYes
Send to GroupsNoYes
Forward MessagesNoYes
Address BookNoYes
Message DraftsNoYes
Export MessagesNoYes
Attachments for MessagesNoYes
Conversation ViewNoYes
Custom Message Handling RulesNoYes
Usergroups
Group TypesYes Hidden, Closed, OpenYes Hidden, Closed, Open, Request
UCP Group ManagementYesYes
UCP Manage Group MembershipsYesYes
Multiple Group LeadersNoYes
Custom Group ColoursNoYes
Group RanksNoYes
Group AvatarsNoYes
Group-based Memberlist DisplayNoYes
Moderation Control Panel
Global ModeratorsNoYes
Forum ModeratorsYesYes
Topics/Posts Moderation QueueNoYes
Manage Reported Topics/PostsNoYes
Topic HistoryNoYes
Forum/Topic LogsNoYes
Localised Moderator LogsNoYes
Post EditingYesYes
Post LockingNoYes
Post DetailsYesYes
Change Post AuthorNoYes
Quick-Mod ToolsYesYes
Moving TopicsYesYes
Move Multiple TopicsYesYes
Merging TopicsNoYes
Merging PostsNoYes
Merging Multiple TopicsNoYes
Split TopicsYesYes
Locking TopicsYesYes
Deleting TopicsYesYes
Copying TopicsNoYes
Global TopicsNoYes
Announcement TopicsYesYes
Sticky TopicsYesYes
Manage BansNoYes
Manage User WarningsNoYes
Banning by UsernameNoYes
Banning by E-mail AddressNoYes
Banning by IP AddressNoYes
User NotesNoYes
Administration Control Panel
Founder Status/Board CreatorNoYes
Load SettingsYesYes
Prune Inactive UsersNoYes
Manage RanksYesYes
Manage GroupsYesYes
Manage Group MembershipsYesYes
Manage Attachments and SettingsNoYes
Manage User AttachmentsNoYes
User EditingYesYes
List Groups on IndexNoYes
Topic IconsNoYes
Mass e-mailYesYes
Manage report/denial ReasonsNoYes
Module ManagementNoYes
Custom BBCodesNoYes
Custom BBCode Placement OptionsNoYes
Custom BBCode Data TypesNoYes
Custom Profile FieldsNoYes
Manage BansYesYes
Banning by UsernameYesYes
Banning by E-mail AddressYesYes
Banning by IP AddressYesYes
Styles
User Selectable StylesYesYes
Install/Manage Custom StylesYesYes
Customise/Edit TemplatesNoYes
Customise/Edit ThemesNoYes
Customise/Edit ImagesetsNoYes
Permissions
Group Based Global PermissionsYesYes
Group Based Moderator PermissionsYesYes
Group Based Administration PermissionsYesYes
Group Based Forum PermissionsYesYes
User Based Global PermissionsYesYes
User Based Moderator PermissionsYesYes
User Based Administration PermissionsYesYes
User Based Forum PermissionsYesYes
Admin Permission RolesNoYes
User Permission RolesNoYes
Moderator Permission RolesNoYes
Forum Permission RolesNoYes
Multi-level Permission MasksNoYes
Notifications
E-mailYesYes
Instant MessagingNoYes
BookmarksNoYes
Localisation
Support for Multiple Language PacksYesYes
Languages50+61+
Right to Left SupportNoYes
Language Pack Web-EditorNoYes
Installation / Upgrade
Installation WizardYesYes
Update WizardNoYes
Converter WizardNoYes
File Merge Diff Update EngineNoYes
Technical Features
CMS Software IntegrationNoYes
XHTML CompliantNoYes
Plug-ins
Auth Plug-insNoYes
Search Plug-insNoYes
Cache Plug-insNoYes
Hooks SystemNoYes
Expandable ModulesYesYes

Screenshots

Some screenshots of the last version, 3.0, with its new features:

Database manager

Website configuration

Templates

Manage Categories

News

Webpages

Filters

Ban emails

Communities

  1. English Forum
  2. Arabic Forum
  3. Catalan Forum
  4. Traditional Chinese (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau)Forum
  5. Simplified Chinese (Mainland China) Forum
  6. Czech Forum
  7. Danish Forum
  8. Dutch Forum
  9. French Forum
  10. Finish Forum
  11. German Forum
  12. Hebrew Forum
  13. Hellenic Forum
  14. Hungarian Forum
  15. Italian Forum
  16. Polish Forum
  17. Brazilian and Portuguese Forum
  18. Romanian Forum
  19. Russian Forum
  20. Slovak Forum
  21. Spanish Forum
  22. Swedish Forum
  23. Turkish Forum

See also

  1. Comparison of forum software applications
  2. PhpBB Official Website
  3. PhpBB Hacks
  4. Development website
  5. PhpBB Smith
  6. PhpBB on Wikipedia.org
Resources:  Vendor/Foundation |  Licenses |  Linux Distributions |  Programming Languages |  Programming Interfaces (API) |  Graphical Interfaces (GUI) |  Available Languages