Overall Forum Features

Feature	phpBB2	phpBB3
General
Version Installed:	2.0.22	3.0.4

Basic Features
UTF-8 Support:	No	Yes
User Preferences:	Yes User PreferencesPage: Preferences, Avatar, and Signature[notes]	Yes User PreferencesComplete Modularised Control Panel -- See Below for details[notes]
Moderation:	Yes ModerationSimple Moderator Controls[notes]	Yes ModerationComplete Modularised Control Panel -- See Below for details[notes]
Administration:	Yes AdministrationFrameset-style Control Panel[notes]	Yes AdministrationComplete Modularised Control Panel -- See Below for details[notes]
Search Engine spider Handling:	No	Yes Search Engine spider HandlingEditable Spider/Crawler/Bot List and Management[notes]
Unread message tracking:	Yes Unread message trackingSession based read/unread tracking[notes]	Yes Unread message trackingFull Persistent read/unread tracking -- Not limited by per-visit sessions[notes]
Private Message System:	Yes	Yes
Statistics:	Yes	Yes

Security
Permanent Bans:	Yes	Yes Permanent BansIncluding reason shown to user and Moderator comment[notes]
Temporary Bans (Suspension):	No	Yes Temporary Bans (Suspension)Including Reason shown to user and Moderator comment[notes]
Permissions:	Yes	Yes PermissionsAdvanced and Customisable Permissions System -- See below Permissions Section for additional details[notes]
Paid Security Code Audit:	No	Yes
Form Handling:	Yes Form HandlingSession based forms[notes]	Yes Form HandlingUser based forms[notes]
Type Aware Parameter Handling:	No	Yes
Type Aware Database Layer:	No	Yes
Password Hashing:	Yes Password HashingMethod: MD5[notes]	Yes Password HashingMethod: Multiple Runs, Salted, and/or MD5[notes]

Anti-Spam
CAPTCHA Visual Confirmation:	Yes	Yes CAPTCHA Visual ConfirmationCustom captcha designed in-house for spam free boards[notes]
Flood Control:	Yes	Yes
Groups:	Yes	Yes
ACLs:	Yes	Yes
Blacklist:	Yes	Yes
Banning:	Yes	Yes
Suspensions:	No	Yes
Warnings:	No	Yes
User Logging:	No	Yes
User Post IP Logging:	Yes	Yes
Report Posts:	No	Yes
Post Moderation:	Yes	Yes

Data Management
Database Backups:	Yes	Yes
Database Restore:	Yes	Yes
Post/Topic Pruning:	Yes	Yes

Registration
COPPA Registrations:	Yes	Yes COPPA RegistrationsToggle On/Off[notes]
Limit Registration Attempts:	Yes	Yes
Set min/max Username Length:	No	Yes
Set min/max Password Length:	No	Yes
Limit username Chars:	No	Yes
Set Password Complexity Requirements:	No	Yes
Force Password Change:	No	Yes
Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usage:	No Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usageDuplicate E-mails are always disallowed[notes]	Yes Allow/Disallow e-mail Address Re-usageAllow or Disallow Duplicate E-Mail Addresses[notes]

Posting
Topic Display Method:	Flat	Flat
BBCode:	Yes	Yes
Custom BBCode Buttons:	No	Yes
HTML in posts:	Yes	No
Smilies/Emoticons:	Yes	Yes
Quoting:	Yes QuotingNested[notes]	Yes QuotingNested, Configurable maximum nested depth[notes]
Quote Multiple Posts:	No	Yes Quote Multiple PostsMultiple post quoting through Topic Review[notes]
Formatting Toolbar:	Yes	Yes
Word Censors:	Yes	Yes
Syntax Highlighting:	No	Yes
Attachments:	No	Yes (Multiple)
Post Drafts:	No	Yes
Polls:	Yes	Yes
Multiple Poll Option Voting:	No	Yes
User based Poll Tracking:	No	Yes
Allow/Disallow Vote Change:	No	Yes
Beaten-to-Posting Review:	No	Yes
Posting Preview:	Yes	Yes
Flood Control:	Yes	yes

Attachments
Automatic Image Thumbnails:	No	Yes
Attachment Types:	No	Yes Attachment TypesImages, Documents, Audio Streams, Video Streams, Archives[notes]
Multiple Attachments:	No	Yes
Attachment Placement:	No	Yes Attachment PlacementInline and/or standard[notes]

Caching
Database Query Caching:	No	Yes
Template Caching:	No	Yes
Arbitrary Data:	No	Yes
Manual Cache Refreshing:	No	Yes

Profiles / Memberlist
Custom Profile Fields:	No	Yes
User Posting Stats:	Yes	Yes
User Instant Messengers:	Yes	Yes
User Profile details:	Yes	Yes
Memberlist Searching:	No	Yes
Disallow Non-Registered User Memberlist Viewing:	No	Yes

Search System
Fulltext Native:	Yes	Yes Fulltext NativeUsing fulltext native Search Plug-in[notes]
Customised Topic Search:	No	Yes
Customised Forum Search:	Yes	Yes
MySQL fulltext:	No	Yes MySQL fulltextUsing included MySQL fulltext Search Plug-in[notes]
Author Search:	Yes	Yes
Advanced Search:	Yes	Yes
Unread Topics:	Yes	Yes
Active Topics:	No	Yes
Posts Since Last Visit:	Yes	Yes
Search Flood Control:	Yes	Yes

Forums
Categories:	Yes	Yes
Password Protected Forums:	No	Yes
Forum Specific Styles:	No	Yes
URL Link Redirect Forums:	No	Yes URL Link Redirect ForumsToggle on/off Redirect Count[notes]
Forum Rules:	No	Yes
Subforums:	No	Yes SubforumsUnlimited Nested Levels[notes]
Last Post:	Yes	Yes
Forum Pruning:	Yes	Yes
Display Active Topics:	Yes	Yes
Subscribe to Forums:	No	Yes Subscribe to ForumsE-mail, Jabber/XMPP Notifications[notes]
Subscribe to Topics:	Yes	Yes Subscribe to TopicsE-mail, Jabber/XMPP Notifications[notes]
Bookmark Topics:	No	Yes
Topic Sorting:	No	Yes Topic SortingSort by Author, Selectable Post Time, Replies, Subject and Views in descending or ascending order[notes]
Post Sorting:	No	Yes Post SortingSort by Author, Selectable Post Time, and Subject in descending or ascending order[notes]
Topic Participation Tracking:	No	Yes
Print Topics:	No	Yes
E-mail Topics:	No	Yes E-mail TopicsE-mail Topic to friend with Language choice[notes]

User Control Panel
User Signatures:	Yes	Yes
User Avatars:	Yes	Yes
User Ranks:	Yes	Yes
Users Online List:	Yes	Yes
User Preferences:	Yes	Yes
User Profile Settings:	Yes	Yes
Manage Saved PM/Post Drafts:	No	Yes
Manage Bookmarks:	No	Yes
Manage Attachments:	No	Yes
Manage Subscribed Topics:	No	Yes
Custom Profile Fields:	No	Yes
Friends/Foe List:	No	Yes

Private Messaging
Additional PM Folders:	No	Yes
Customisable PM Filter Rules:	No	Yes
Send to Multiple Recipients:	No	Yes Send to Multiple RecipientsGroups and/or Users[notes]
Send Blind Carbon Copies:	No	Yes
Send to Groups:	No	Yes
Forward Messages:	No	Yes
Address Book:	No	Yes Address BookUsing Friends list[notes]
Message Drafts:	No	Yes
Export Messages:	No	Yes
Attachments for Messages:	No	Yes
Conversation View:	No	Yes
Custom Message Handling Rules:	No	Yes

Usergroups
Group Types:	Yes Group TypesHidden, Closed, Open[notes]	Yes Group TypesHidden, Closed, Open, Request[notes]
UCP Group Management:	Yes	Yes
UCP Manage Group Memberships:	Yes	Yes
Multiple Group Leaders:	No Multiple Group LeadersSingle Group Leader/Moderator only[notes]	Yes Multiple Group LeadersMultiple Group Leaders[notes]
Custom Group Colors:	No	Yes
Group Ranks:	No	Yes
Group Avatars:	No	Yes
Group-based Memberlist Display:	No	Yes

Moderation Control Panel
Global Moderators:	No	Yes
Forum Moderators:	Yes	Yes
Topics/Posts Moderation Queue:	No	Yes
Manage Reported Topics/Posts:	No	Yes
Topic History:	No	Yes
Forum/Topic Logs:	No	Yes
Localized Moderator Logs:	No	Yes
Post Editing:	Yes	Yes
Post Locking:	No	Yes Post LockingPost Locking prevents user from editing post[notes]
Post Details:	Yes	Yes
Change Post Author:	No	Yes
Quick-Mod Tools:	Yes	Yes Quick-Mod ToolsExpanded[notes]
Moving Topics:	Yes	Yes
Move Multiple Topics:	Yes	Yes
Merging Topics:	No	Yes
Merging Posts:	No	Yes
Merging Multiple Topics:	No	Yes
Split Topics:	Yes	Yes
Locking Topics:	Yes	Yes
Deleting Topics:	Yes	Yes
Copying Topics:	No	Yes
Global Topics:	No	Yes
Announcement Topics:	Yes	Yes
Sticky Topics:	Yes	Yes
Manage Bans:	No	Yes Manage BansManage Suspensions (Temporary Bans), Permanent Bans, plus reason for ban[notes]
Manage User Warnings:	No	Yes
Banning by Username:	No	Yes
Banning by E-mail Address:	No	Yes
Banning by IP Address:	No	Yes
User Notes:	No	Yes

Administration Control Panel
Founder Status/Board Creator:	No	Yes
Load Settings:	Yes	Yes
Prune Inactive Users:	No	Yes
Manage Ranks:	Yes	Yes
Manage Groups:	Yes	Yes
Manage Group Memberships:	Yes	Yes
Manage Attachments and Settings:	No	Yes
Manage User Attachments:	No	Yes
User Editing:	Yes	Yes User EditingAdvanced Interface -- Complete User Administration: Overview, profile, preferences, permissions, groups, avatar, signature, and settings[notes]
List Groups on Index:	No	Yes
Topic Icons:	No	Yes
Mass e-mail:	Yes	Yes
Manage report/denial Reasons:	No	Yes
Module Management:	No	Yes
Custom BBCodes:	No	Yes
Custom Profile Fields:	No	Yes
Custom Profile Fields Placement Options:	No	Yes Custom Profile Fields Placement OptionsRequired fields, Optional but fields shown on registration, Field shown in Profile, Field shown in Memberlist, Field shown in Topics, Moderator/Admin Profile Field (hidden from user)[notes]
Custom Profile Fields Data Types:	No	Yes Custom Profile Fields Data TypesDates, Integers, Text Fields, Textareas, Menu lists, Toggle (on/off, yes/no), Radio Buttons[notes]
Manage Bans:	Yes	Yes Manage BansManage Suspensions (Temporary Bans), Permanent Bans, plus reason for ban[notes]
Banning by Username:	Yes	Yes
Banning by E-mail Address:	Yes	Yes
Banning by IP Address:	Yes	Yes

Styles
User Selectable Styles:	Yes	Yes
Install/Manage Custom Styles:	Yes	Yes
Customise/Edit Templates:	No	Yes
Customise/Edit Themes:	No	Yes
Customise/Edit Imagesets:	No	Yes

Permissions
Group Based Global Permissions:	Yes	Yes
Group Based Moderator Permissions:	Yes	Yes
Group Based Administration Permissions:	Yes	Yes
Group Based Forum Permissions:	Yes	Yes
User Based Global Permissions:	Yes	Yes
User Based Moderator Permissions:	Yes	Yes
User Based Administration Permissions:	Yes	Yes
User Based Forum Permissions:	Yes	Yes
Admin Permission Roles:	No	Yes
User Permission Roles:	No	Yes
Moderator Permission Roles:	No	Yes
Forum Permission Roles:	No	Yes
Multi-level Permission Masks:	No	Yes

Notifications
E-mail:	Yes	Yes
Instant Messaging:	No	Yes Instant MessagingJabber Support[notes]
Bookmarks:	No	Yes

Localization
Support for Multiple Language Packs:	Yes	Yes
Languages:	50+	61+
Right to Left Support:	No	Yes
Language Pack Web-Editor:	No	Yes

Technical Features
CMS Software Integration:	No	Yes CMS Software IntegrationJoomla! Third Party Bridge with Joomla! auth plug-in[notes]
XHTML Compliant:	No XHTML CompliantHTML 4.01[notes]	Yes XHTML CompliantXHTML 1.0 Strict Compliant[notes]

Plug-ins
Auth Plug-ins:	No	Yes Auth Plug-insApache, DB, LDAP Auth plug-ins included[notes]
Search Plug-ins:	No	Yes Search Plug-insNative, MySQL Search plug-ins included[notes]
Cache Plug-ins:	No	Yes Cache Plug-insFile Cache Method plug-in included, other Cache plug-ins: memcache, X-Cache, APC, eAccelerator[notes]
Hooks System:	No	Yes
Expandable Modules:	Yes Expandable ModulesAdministration Control Panel[notes]	Yes Expandable ModulesACP, UCP, MCP plus any and all custom Control Panels installed[notes]