Definition[]
A message board is based on the World Wide Web at services such as Yahoo! Groups (Groups.Yahoo.com) or Topica.com. Users can log in after obtaining a user ID and password (in most cases) and post information on a given topic. In some cases, users can read but not post messages on Web-based message boards without logging in to the systems that host the boards.
Overview[]
Often the messages will not be found by search engines but will only be accessible through direct access to the message board service. For example, messages posted on a Yahoo! private message board can only be viewed by members of that particular board.
Postings to message boards may contain the originating IP address or e-mail address of the individual, commonly known as the “poster.”