> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://denvergeeks-discourse.gitbook.io/discourse-new-user-guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://denvergeeks-discourse.gitbook.io/discourse-new-user-guide/new-user-guide/browsing-the-forum.md).

# Browsing the Forum

#### Topic lists <a href="#topic-lists-3" id="topic-lists-3"></a>

By default, the Discourse homepage will show all **Latest** conversations in the community but you can filter this list in a number of ways:

[![views](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/optimized/3X/d/2/d2a07b596b3e141bd1325a40173d8d9f0d39a059_2_690x108.png)](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/d/2/d2a07b596b3e141bd1325a40173d8d9f0d39a059.png)

* **By category**: in the menu line, click the ‘all categories’ title and a list of all the categories appears.
* **By tag**: in the menu line, click the ‘all tags’ title and a list of all the tags are used will appear.
* **By level of activity**: if you click on ‘Top’ the conversation topics will be listed in order of most activity (views and replies) for a specific time period. You can choose whether this is for all time, or select a specific period such as quarter, month, week or just today.
* **By what’s ‘New’ to you**: *by default*, new topics are those created in the last 2 days that you have not opened yet to keep the list fresh and relevant. New topics show a small blue dot next to the topic title<br>

  [![discourse-topic-new-indicator](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/optimized/3X/d/8/d8aa8f56a483d0568acc4a84474b64e8544f2860_2_345x69.png)](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/d/8/d8aa8f56a483d0568acc4a84474b64e8544f2860.png)
* **By what topics are “Unread”**: *by default*, unread topics are those that you have previously opened and read for *at least* 4 minutes, and that have new posts (replies) submitted to them. Unread topics show a number in a blue circle indicating how many new posts are in the topic.<br>

  [![discourse-topic-unread-indicator](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/optimized/3X/b/d/bdcf77c6c2064fad5759d57058f40e00b0e5b1b0_2_345x67.png)](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/b/d/bdcf77c6c2064fad5759d57058f40e00b0e5b1b0.png)

#### See who is participating <a href="#see-who-is-participating-4" id="see-who-is-participating-4"></a>

There are several ways to see who is involved in topics.

<img src="https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/3/3/335050c33bb5814843a76decbc060cb274544503.jpeg" alt="participants" height="92" width="166">

On the homepage you will see a selection of avatars (profile pictures) of:

* the user who started the topic (always the first photo);
* a selection of the most active participants;
* and, who created the most recent post (usually the last photo).
* in some cases, the first photo has a blue border or blue halo to indicate that the original poster is also the most recent poster.\
  ![original-poster](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/2/9/29ba295e9ea618067228a361e120bc1f0b41561a.jpeg)

The box at the bottom of the OP tells you; who created the post and when, gives a count of the replies and views in this topic to date, and a display of the avatars of the most frequent participants.

[![topic-map](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/optimized/3X/2/0/209c183dc1cf730972b9a2b7272706ae6442b8f2_2_690x141.png)](https://d11a6trkgmumsb.cloudfront.net/original/3X/2/0/209c183dc1cf730972b9a2b7272706ae6442b8f2.png)