The Computer Dictionary

Bulletin Board System
Bulletin Board
BBS

A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a discussion board community of special interest users using a specific technology for access.

BBS existed before the Internet and todays BBSs are not connected to the Internet. (Information about BBS is on the Internet, but the BBSs themselves are not.) BBS is now generally regarded as old and inconvenient technology.

To access a BBS it is necessary to have:
1) a BBS computer software program that allows users to connect and log-in to
2) a system terminal program (a special form of dedicated browser).

Originally, BBSs were accessed only by phone using a modem, but by the early 1990s some BBSs allowed access via a Telnet or by packet radio connection. They were especially popular from the 1970's to the mid 1990's and many BBSs were technically-oriented and appealed to computer geeks and other technically-minded users.

BBSs are much more private as casual visitors surfing over from the Internet are not possible. BBSs typically offered (and still offer) forum-like discussions, the downloading or uploading of software, one-on-one on-line games, and public as well as private one-on-one chat-room discussions.

There are few BBSs today, as forums on the Internet are more pracitcal and convenient.

See Forums for more information.

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