What is phpBB?
phpBB is a high powered, fully scalable, and highly customizable Open Source bulletin board package. phpBB has a user-friendly interface, simple and straightforward administration panel, and helpful FAQ. Based on the powerful PHP server language and your choice of MySQL, MS-SQL, PostgreSQL or Access/ODBC database servers, phpBB is the ideal free community solution for all web sites.

Who are phpBB?
phpBB are a group of individuals based internationally who believe in Open Source software. The project has been stable since its creation in June 2000 without changes in licensing, leadership or corporate associations. Our goals remain unchanged and clear, to continue developing and supporting a stable, free, Open Source forum system.


phpBB version 2 has been completely re-written since the first version. Version 2 focuses on a professional-quality modular design, high security, multiple-language interface, support for a multitude of databases servers and complete layout customisation, all with a low execution overhead.

phpBB is based on PHP, the fastest growing server-side scripting language on the web, which results in one of the fastest, feature-rich bulletin board systems available anywhere.

In addition, phpBB is open-source software so it has no fees, no subscriptions, and no restrictions on modifications. Couple this with a thriving and friendly phpBB community and you have a killer solution for creating communities on your site!

Installation
Simple installation that will have you up and running in minutes
Complete upgrade from V1.x


Database Server Support
phpBB uses a database abstraction layer to enable seamless support of several database servers:


MySQL 3.2x,
PostgreSQL 7.x,
Microsoft SQL Server 7/2000
Microsoft Access (via ODBC)

...with more databases available in the future.


Security
Designed with security as a priority
Powerful and extensive authorisation system
Strong encryption to keep passwords safe in the database
Support for both cookie and URI-based sessions


Unlimited Forums & Categories
Unlimited forums can be organised into as many categories as you like
Private forums and those only for specified user groups
Powerful search facility


Posting Messages
Message formatting with various font styles and sizes as well as allowing quoting, code display, image posting and automatic URL linking
Support of standard and extended BBCode tags and controlled HTML tags
Polls can be simply added to posts
Email notification of replies to your topics
Powerful topic subscription capability
Original emoticons to portray emotions


Versatile User Groups & Forum Permissions
Powerful forum, user and group permission management
Control forum access to specified user groups
Control all aspects of the posting experience
Allow limited access to viewing, posting, replying and many other options


Member Features
Unlimited members
Personal profile creation
Post counting and administrator-definable ranks for users
Email-like private messaging system
Supports local, remote and uploadable avatars


Moderation Features
Topic editing
Mass delete/move/lock/unlock of posts
Topic splitting
Option of auto-pruning of old or unanswered messages on a per-forum basis


Easy to Use Administration Centre
General configuration
Forum & category setup
Easy database backup and restore
Disallowed usernames
User authorisation
Word censoring
Complete member management
Emoticon setup
Optional account verification
Extensive ban management, ban by email address, username or single/multiple IP address or hostname
IP tracking of posts and posters
Mass emailing of groups and users by the administrator


Style and Customisation
Multiple styles available for the user to choose from
Templates separated from the PHP code so that new layouts can easily be created or integrated with your current site design
Complete control of fonts and colours with cascading style sheets (CSS)
Active community creating addons and specialised modifications
Default style compliant with XHTML 1.0 and HTML 4.01 recommendations from the W3C


Support
All this is supported by an increasingly large, thriving and friendly community of members from all over the world ready to help with any problems, suggestions or just for general discussion!