Discord Server is a communications software platform for gamers that offers text and voice chat, file sharing and other features to help gaming communities communicate in real time. It’s free to use and can be run from a web browser or a desktop client on Windows, macOS and Linux. Discord is also available as a mobile app for Android and iOS.
In addition to the standard text and voice chat functions, Discord Server has a variety of other options that can be enabled by admins or moderators. These include the ability to create and customize roles with different permissions. Some of these can even be applied to users individually, allowing admins to limit access to certain channels or features such as video chat, text-to-speech and user tagging.
A well-managed Discord server can resemble an organized message board in many ways, with locked announcement and guideline threads at the top of the list and channels for specific topics down below. But unlike a forum, there are real-time voice conversations and channels where players can gather to play together.
To join a server, gamers must first receive an invite from a friend or the server’s owner. This may be a private link sent directly to them or it might be found in the public directory. Once they have accepted the invite, they can enter the server by clicking on it in their web browser or using a desktop Discord app. Once they have entered, they will land in the channel at the top of the list that was set by the admin.
Depending on the server, this might be a welcome channel to greet new members or it might be a general one that will place them in the channel where they first joined. Other servers have special ‘default’ channels that will send new members to their preferred channels or to a set of default channels based on their role in the community.
Once in a server, gamers can access a range of options by clicking on the cog icon at the bottom left of the screen. From here they can change all sorts of settings, including privacy settings, authorised apps, keybindings and more. Some of these are important to keep in mind to stay safe online, for example the option to set Discord to scan direct messages for NSFW content and stop users from receiving it.
The ability to report content or users is also a handy feature of Discord, allowing admins and moderators to take action against inappropriate material or behavior. The server also allows for two-factor authentication to be enabled, which requires a code received by email or text message in addition to the username and password to log in. This is particularly helpful for those who share their desktop with others or who want to ensure they’re the only ones who can access their account.