Are they Threads or Messages?

[Gator]

I notice that in some places they refer to them as Threads, and other places they are referred to as "Messages." What is the difference between "Thread" and a "Message"?

 

[whynot]

What is the difference between "Thread" and a "Message"?

A thread may contain one or more than one (several) messages(replies).

 

[Gator]

A thread may contain one or more than one (several) messages.

But other areas refer to them as "posts" and not messages. I am only trying to find some standardization in the nomenclature.

 

[whynot]

But other areas refer to them as "posts" and not messages.

Posts, messages, replies: same meaning.
Choose whichever you prefer.

 

[Kirby]

Posts, messages, replies: same meaning.

Hmm ... not every post is a reply, the the first post of a thread is not a reply.
But every reply (in terms of threads, for conversations this is not the case) is a post and they are all messages.

 

[Lukas W.]

A post is a message, but a message is not always a post, it could also be a private message in your inbox as well. A reply is a message that is in response to another message (to either a post or a private message), so it does not include the first message of each thread or conversation. So

• A post is a message
• A thread is a collection of posts (and therefor messages)
• A reply is a message in response to another message

If you're looking for the most general term that also includes private messages in conversations, take messages. If you want to specifically only target messages in the public area of the forum, take posts.

 

[Gator]

@katsulynx

Thank you for that well worded and descriptive answer to my question. I think I got it now.

Thanks again