Imageboard
Encyclopedia
An imageboard or image board (also chan, which is short for channel) is a type of Internet forum
that revolves around the posting of images. The first imageboards were created in Japan
, and many English-language imageboards today are centered around Japanese culture. They are based on the textboard
concept.
, are used for the discussion of a variety of topics. The primary focus of imageboards, however, is directed away from text posts, and is instead placed on picture posts. The two share many of the same structures, including separate forums for separate topics, as well as similar audiences. Imageboards are much more transitory with content—on some boards (especially highly-trafficked ones), the thread deletion time can be as little as 10 minutes. The most popular English-language
imageboards , 4chan and 7chan, tend to revolve around Japanese culture such as CG artwork
or anime
. In Japan
, where imageboards are more common, topics vary widely, ranging from train
s to current news
.
Imageboards are also different from online galleries
in that most of the works posted are not made by the poster, but instead are taken from other online sources: galleries, other imageboards, and edited pictures.
Most imageboards and 2channel
-style discussion boards allow (and encourage) anonymous posting and use a system of tripcode
s instead of registration. Anonymity is considered to be one of the advantages of an imageboard. Some boards have from time to time removed the ability to post with a name altogether (known as 'forced anonymous/anonymity'). Programs such as tripcode explorer enable one to create custom tripcodes, in order to further cement one's identity. However, using a tripcode on some boards, such as 4chan
, is generally discouraged by the community, who prefer to remain anonymous.
On many imageboards, if a user wants to reply to a thread but not bump
it, they can put the word sage (Japanese: 下げ) in the e-mail field. "Ageing" can refer to either bumping a post or putting the word age (Japanese: 上げ) into the e-mail field. It is considered polite to sage when replying to your own thread. Sage is used by some board users generally to signify a bad thread.
In Japan, the imageboard is a much larger cultural symbol, with one estimate putting the total number of posts for Futaba's seven Nijiura (Japanese: 二次元裏) boards boards at over 56,000,000 and rising.
folksonomic
vocabulary for topical tagging and search).
Futallaby is a PHP script based on the Futaba script from Futaba Channel
. Although Futallaby is still in use at 1chan, and the Futallaby source is still freely available, it is no longer in development, and the download page recommends using Wakaba instead, stating that "Wakaba can do everything Futallaby does and so much more." Futallaby started as a translation of Futaba, later retooled to support XHTML and customizable CSS styles. It is mostly notable for being the first English imageboard script. It requires MySQL to work.
Wakaba is written from the ground up in Perl
, and a SQL backend to store thread information. Wakaba is very strictly modelled after the Futaba and Futallaby scripts. Wakaba borrows some HTML codes and translated text from Futallaby. It is designed to be more efficient and cleanly written than other scripts that are available, while preserving the same kind of functionality. Wakaba scripts are in use at iichan. Wakaba is one of most popular western imageboard software scripts , used most notably by iichan (Wakachan).
Kusaba is modular, written from scratch with PHP
for server side scripting, JavaScript
for some client side scripting, and with ADOdb Lite
for database abstraction to a database, MySQL
. The main focus of the development of Kusaba was to code faster and more efficient software for multi-imageboard sites. The center feature of the software is the centralization of the backend for all boards by having a single installation controlling all boards. The creator has discontinued the project in favor of two other imageboards: PyIB and TinyIB. In August 2008, the domain hosting kusaba expired. The last version of the software (1.0.4) was hosted on another imageboard site, Megachan, and development has been picked up by Kusaba X and OperatorChan.
Pixmicat is another PHP script based on the Futaba script. It supports flatfile, MySQL and SQLite storage. It also supports internationalization, modules, remote image storage and templating. It is widely in use in Komica, a Taiwanese imageboard portal.
s, annotations, translations, and comments.
There exists a number of different Danbooru-style imageboards, both those who have shared source code and those who are not released for others to use.
Some of imageboard engines have a public API which can be used to automate publication and post viewing. A de-facto standard for the API, created by Danbooru and used by the other imageboards has been established for this. The feature is used by a number of board crawlers and Firefox extensions.
Shared:
Non-shared:
Danbooru is a Ruby on Rails
-based imageboard software that is released under a FreeBSD license.
Shimmie is an imageboard written from scratch in PHP using MySQL as a database and GD or ImageMagick for image manipulation (thumbnails).
Gelbooru.com runs an unreleased branch of the Gelbooru software (0.2.x). An older branch (0.1.x) has been released for public use.
. Imageboard software packages Futallaby, Yotsuba, Kusaba X, and others which are used on many other imageboards, are all derived from Futaba's original PHP script. Its boards usually do not distinguish between pornographic and "clean" content, but there is a strict barrier between two-dimensional (drawn) and three-dimensional (CG
and photographic) pictures that is heavily enforced and debated.
, and popular culture) and their discussion. The Guardian
describes it as "at once brilliant, ridiculous and alarming."
The site and its userbase have received attention from the media for a number of reasons, including posts sporting terrorist threats against schools and sports stadiums, attacks against Hal Turner
on his Internet shows, distributed denial-of-service attacks against eBaum's World
, Cyber Bullying , taking part in Project Chanology
, and multiple cases of anti-animal abuse reports.
Many Internet meme
s have originated there, including lolcats, rickrolling
, and chocolate rain
.
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
that revolves around the posting of images. The first imageboards were created in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and many English-language imageboards today are centered around Japanese culture. They are based on the textboard
Textboard
A textboard is a simple kind of internet forum that does not require registration. While popular in Japan, they remain relatively unknown outside of it, in contrast to imageboards .-Features:...
concept.
Characteristics of imageboards
Imageboards, similar to bulletin boardsBulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
, are used for the discussion of a variety of topics. The primary focus of imageboards, however, is directed away from text posts, and is instead placed on picture posts. The two share many of the same structures, including separate forums for separate topics, as well as similar audiences. Imageboards are much more transitory with content—on some boards (especially highly-trafficked ones), the thread deletion time can be as little as 10 minutes. The most popular English-language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
imageboards , 4chan and 7chan, tend to revolve around Japanese culture such as CG artwork
CG artwork
CG is a term most commonly known in the West for its use in Japanese webpages to denote digital artwork. In traditional Japanese, it is an abbreviation of the Japanese gairaigo , used to refer to any form of digital artwork, from digitally shaded dōjinshi to legitimate cinematic art...
or anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where imageboards are more common, topics vary widely, ranging from train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s to current news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
.
Imageboards are also different from online galleries
Image hosting service
An image hosting service allows individuals to upload images to an Internet website. The image host will then store the image onto its server, and show the individual different types of code to allow others to view that image....
in that most of the works posted are not made by the poster, but instead are taken from other online sources: galleries, other imageboards, and edited pictures.
Most imageboards and 2channel
2channel
is a Japanese textboard. In 2007 there were 2.5 million posts made every day. Launched in 1999, it has gained significant influence in Japanese society, comparable to that of traditional mass media such as television, radio, and magazines. As of 2008, the site generates revenue upwards of ¥100...
-style discussion boards allow (and encourage) anonymous posting and use a system of tripcode
Tripcode
A tripcode is a means of telecommunication authentication that does not require registration. Tripcodes are most often used in 2channel-style message boards or Futaba Channel-style imageboards...
s instead of registration. Anonymity is considered to be one of the advantages of an imageboard. Some boards have from time to time removed the ability to post with a name altogether (known as 'forced anonymous/anonymity'). Programs such as tripcode explorer enable one to create custom tripcodes, in order to further cement one's identity. However, using a tripcode on some boards, such as 4chan
4chan
4chan is an English-language imageboard website. Launched on October 1, 2003, its boards were originally used for the posting of pictures and discussion of manga and anime...
, is generally discouraged by the community, who prefer to remain anonymous.
On many imageboards, if a user wants to reply to a thread but not bump
Bump (internet)
To bump a thread on an Internet forum is to post a reply to it purely in order to raise the thread's profile. This will typically return it to the top of the list of active threads...
it, they can put the word sage (Japanese: 下げ) in the e-mail field. "Ageing" can refer to either bumping a post or putting the word age (Japanese: 上げ) into the e-mail field. It is considered polite to sage when replying to your own thread. Sage is used by some board users generally to signify a bad thread.
In Japan, the imageboard is a much larger cultural symbol, with one estimate putting the total number of posts for Futaba's seven Nijiura (Japanese: 二次元裏) boards boards at over 56,000,000 and rising.
Software
There are two primary types of imageboard software packages in widespread use: linearly-directed imageboards modeled closely after Futaba Channel (in which content is posted through hierarchical subsections of topical interest, usually denoted by a forward slash such as "/f" for female), and nonlinear imageboards modeled after Danbooru (usually indicated by the usage of controlledControlled vocabulary
Controlled vocabularies provide a way to organize knowledge for subsequent retrieval. They are used in subject indexing schemes, subject headings, thesauri, taxonomies and other form of knowledge organization systems...
folksonomic
Folksonomy
A folksonomy is a system of classification derived from the practice and method of collaboratively creating and managing tags to annotate and categorize content; this practice is also known as collaborative tagging, social classification, social indexing, and social tagging...
vocabulary for topical tagging and search).
Futaba Channel clones
There are currently four Futaba-based imageboard software packages in widespread use: Futallaby, Wakaba, Kusaba, and Pixmicat.Futallaby is a PHP script based on the Futaba script from Futaba Channel
Futaba Channel
, or Futaba for short, is an internet forum in Japan. It is a popular Japanese imageboard dealing in otaku and underground culture.-Origin:Futaba Channel was set up on August 30, 2001, as a refuge for 2channel users when 2channel was in danger of shutting down...
. Although Futallaby is still in use at 1chan, and the Futallaby source is still freely available, it is no longer in development, and the download page recommends using Wakaba instead, stating that "Wakaba can do everything Futallaby does and so much more." Futallaby started as a translation of Futaba, later retooled to support XHTML and customizable CSS styles. It is mostly notable for being the first English imageboard script. It requires MySQL to work.
Wakaba is written from the ground up in Perl
Perl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
, and a SQL backend to store thread information. Wakaba is very strictly modelled after the Futaba and Futallaby scripts. Wakaba borrows some HTML codes and translated text from Futallaby. It is designed to be more efficient and cleanly written than other scripts that are available, while preserving the same kind of functionality. Wakaba scripts are in use at iichan. Wakaba is one of most popular western imageboard software scripts , used most notably by iichan (Wakachan).
Kusaba is modular, written from scratch with PHP
PHP
PHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
for server side scripting, JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
for some client side scripting, and with ADOdb Lite
ADOdb Lite
ADOdb Lite is a very small, fast ADOdb-compatible database abstraction library written in PHP.It uses less than 100 kB of system RAM for each HTTP access compared to over 640 kB for ADOdb...
for database abstraction to a database, MySQL
MySQL
MySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
. The main focus of the development of Kusaba was to code faster and more efficient software for multi-imageboard sites. The center feature of the software is the centralization of the backend for all boards by having a single installation controlling all boards. The creator has discontinued the project in favor of two other imageboards: PyIB and TinyIB. In August 2008, the domain hosting kusaba expired. The last version of the software (1.0.4) was hosted on another imageboard site, Megachan, and development has been picked up by Kusaba X and OperatorChan.
Pixmicat is another PHP script based on the Futaba script. It supports flatfile, MySQL and SQLite storage. It also supports internationalization, modules, remote image storage and templating. It is widely in use in Komica, a Taiwanese imageboard portal.
Danbooru-style boards
Unlike Futaba-inspired imageboard software packages, Danbooru and derivatives aim for a non-hierarchical semantic structure in which users are able to post content and add tagTag (metadata)
In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...
s, annotations, translations, and comments.
There exists a number of different Danbooru-style imageboards, both those who have shared source code and those who are not released for others to use.
Some of imageboard engines have a public API which can be used to automate publication and post viewing. A de-facto standard for the API, created by Danbooru and used by the other imageboards has been established for this. The feature is used by a number of board crawlers and Firefox extensions.
Shared:
- Danbooru (Ruby on RailsRuby on RailsRuby on Rails, often shortened to Rails or RoR, is an open source web application framework for the Ruby programming language.-History:...
) - Shimmie (PHPPHPPHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
) - Gelbooru 0.1.x (PHP)
Non-shared:
- Gelbooru 0.2.x (PHP)
Danbooru is a Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails
Ruby on Rails, often shortened to Rails or RoR, is an open source web application framework for the Ruby programming language.-History:...
-based imageboard software that is released under a FreeBSD license.
Shimmie is an imageboard written from scratch in PHP using MySQL as a database and GD or ImageMagick for image manipulation (thumbnails).
Gelbooru.com runs an unreleased branch of the Gelbooru software (0.2.x). An older branch (0.1.x) has been released for public use.
Futaba Channel
Futaba Channel (ふたば☆ちゃんねる), or "Futaba" for short, is a popular, anonymous BBS and imageboard system based in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Imageboard software packages Futallaby, Yotsuba, Kusaba X, and others which are used on many other imageboards, are all derived from Futaba's original PHP script. Its boards usually do not distinguish between pornographic and "clean" content, but there is a strict barrier between two-dimensional (drawn) and three-dimensional (CG
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
and photographic) pictures that is heavily enforced and debated.
4chan
4chan is an English language imageboard based on the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel. This imageboard is based primarily upon the posting of pictures (generally related to anime, mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
, and popular culture) and their discussion. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
describes it as "at once brilliant, ridiculous and alarming."
The site and its userbase have received attention from the media for a number of reasons, including posts sporting terrorist threats against schools and sports stadiums, attacks against Hal Turner
Hal Turner
Harold Charles "Hal" Turner is an American white nationalist, Holocaust denier and blogger from North Bergen, New Jersey. In August 2010, he was convicted for making threats against three federal judges with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals...
on his Internet shows, distributed denial-of-service attacks against eBaum's World
EBaum's World
eBaum's World is a website based in Rochester, New York featuring entertainment media such as videos, Flash cartoons and web games. It is controversial for many reasons, primarily because much of the content on the website is taken from other sources without permission and rebranded with the...
, Cyber Bullying , taking part in Project Chanology
Project Chanology
Project Chanology is a protest movement against the practices of the Church of Scientology by members of Anonymous, a leaderless Internet-based group that defines itself as ubiquitous...
, and multiple cases of anti-animal abuse reports.
Many Internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
s have originated there, including lolcats, rickrolling
Rickrolling
Rickrolling is an Internet meme involving the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up". The meme is a bait and switch; a person provides a hyperlink seemingly relevant to the topic at hand, but actually leads to Astley's video...
, and chocolate rain
Chocolate Rain
"Chocolate Rain" is a song and music video performed by American Internet personality Tay Zonday. After being posted on YouTube on April 22, 2007, the song quickly became popular. , the video has over 74,000,000 views. The music video portrays a bespectacled Zonday in a recording studio wearing a...
.
Ichan
This also, is an English based language image board divided into various sections. There is one section, "sexy women", where users post images and trade files of nude and non-nude women. It appears that most of the non-nude material is of adolescent and preteen girls wearing panties, swimsuits, leotards, and other revealing articles of clothing, appearing in seductive poses. There are often photos or links to child porn posted here which should be a warning to those who use or frequent this site.External links
- Overscript (an imageboard software listing)
- Overchan (a directory of English-language imageboards)
- Overchan V.2 (an imageboard portal)
- The Imageboard Search Engine (utilizes search API of some Danbooru-style imageboards)
- SAoVPQ board guide (Imageboard/anonymous board guide)
- Anonymous board guide (Imageboard/anonymous board guide)