CINXE.COM
Mastodon documentation
<!doctype html><html lang=en><head><meta name=generator content="Hugo 0.140.2"><meta charset=utf-8><meta name=viewport content='width=device-width,initial-scale=1'><link rel="shortcut icon" type=image/png href=/favicon.ico><link rel=stylesheet href=/style.min.b46f0149145baed93fe677a4b3861607c22dc4516b070f6a5bc1d8b5802ddc4c.css><script src=/main.min.0b774fda2366fc06803dd619b7467da11181c73a4ef394b7610a2eb2a3cb7b5d.js async></script><title>Mastodon documentation</title> <meta property="og:type" content="article"><meta property="og:url" content="https://docs.joinmastodon.org/"><meta name=description content="Welcome to the Mastodon documentation!"><meta property="og:description" content="Welcome to the Mastodon documentation!"><meta name=twitter:description content="Welcome to the Mastodon documentation!"><meta name=twitter:title content="What is Mastodon?"><meta name=twitter:site content="@joinmastodon"><link rel=canonical href=https://docs.joinmastodon.org/></head><body><div class="container sidebar-layout"><nav class=sidebar><a class=brand href=/><img class=link-logo src=/brand.svg alt=Mastodon> </a><input id=mobile-nav-toggle class=mobile-nav-toggle type=checkbox> <label for=mobile-nav-toggle><span class=menu-open><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M6.4 19 5 17.6l5.6-5.6L5 6.4 6.4 5l5.6 5.6L17.6 5 19 6.4 13.4 12l5.6 5.6-1.4 1.4-5.6-5.6z"/></svg> </span><span class=menu-close><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M3 18v-2h18v2zm0-5v-2h18v2zm0-5V6h18v2z"/></svg></span></label><ul><li><a href=/ class=active>What is Mastodon?</a></li><li><span class=sub-title>Using Mastodon</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/user/signup/>Signing up for an account</a></li><li><a href=/user/profile/>Setting up your profile</a></li><li><a href=/user/posting/>Posting to your profile</a></li><li><a href=/user/network/>Using the network features</a></li><li><a href=/user/moderating/>Dealing with unwanted content</a></li><li><a href=/user/discoverability/>Promoting yourself and others</a></li><li><a href=/user/preferences/>Set your preferences</a></li><li><a href=/user/contacts/>More settings</a></li><li><a href=/user/external/>Using Mastodon externally</a></li><li><a href=/user/moving/>Moving or leaving accounts</a></li><li><a href=/user/run-your-own/>Running your own server</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>Running Mastodon</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/admin/prerequisites/>Preparing your machine</a></li><li><a href=/admin/install/>Installing from source</a></li><li><a href=/admin/config/>Configuring your environment</a></li><li><a href=/admin/elasticsearch/>Configuring full-text search</a></li><li><a href=/admin/optional/>Installing optional features</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/admin/optional/object-storage/>Object storage</a></li><li><a href=/admin/optional/tor/>Onion services</a></li><li><a href=/admin/optional/captcha/>Captcha</a></li><li><a href=/admin/optional/sso/>Single Sign On</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/admin/setup/>Setting up your new instance</a></li><li><a href=/admin/tootctl/>Using the admin CLI</a></li><li><a href=/admin/upgrading/>Upgrading to a new release</a></li><li><a href=/admin/backups/>Backing up your server</a></li><li><a href=/admin/migrating/>Migrating to a new machine</a></li><li><a href=/admin/scaling/>Scaling up your server</a></li><li><a href=/admin/moderation/>Moderation actions</a></li><li><a href=/admin/troubleshooting/>Troubleshooting errors</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/admin/troubleshooting/index-corruption/>Database index corruption</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/admin/roles/>Roles</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>Developing Mastodon apps</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/client/intro/>Getting started with the API</a></li><li><a href=/client/public/>Playing with public data</a></li><li><a href=/client/token/>Obtaining client app access</a></li><li><a href=/client/authorized/>Logging in with an account</a></li><li><a href=/client/libraries/>Libraries and implementations</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>Contributing to Mastodon</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/dev/overview/>Technical overview</a></li><li><a href=/dev/setup/>Setting up a dev environment</a></li><li><a href=/dev/code/>Code structure</a></li><li><a href=/dev/routes/>Routes</a></li><li><a href=/dev/disclosure/>Bug bounties and responsible disclosure</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>Spec compliance</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/spec/activitypub/>ActivityPub</a></li><li><a href=/spec/webfinger/>WebFinger</a></li><li><a href=/spec/security/>Security</a></li><li><a href=/spec/microformats/>Microformats</a></li><li><a href=/spec/oauth/>OAuth</a></li><li><a href=/spec/bearcaps/>Bearcaps</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>REST API</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/api/datetime-format/>Datetime formats</a></li><li><a href=/api/guidelines/>Guidelines and best practices</a></li><li><a href=/api/oauth-tokens/>OAuth Tokens</a></li><li><a href=/api/oauth-scopes/>OAuth Scopes</a></li><li><a href=/api/rate-limits/>Rate limits</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>API Methods</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/apps/>apps</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/oauth/>oauth</a></li><li><a href=/methods/emails/>emails</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/accounts/>accounts</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/bookmarks/>bookmarks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/favourites/>favourites</a></li><li><a href=/methods/mutes/>mutes</a></li><li><a href=/methods/blocks/>blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/domain_blocks/>domain_blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/filters/>filters</a></li><li><a href=/methods/reports/>reports</a></li><li><a href=/methods/follow_requests/>follow_requests</a></li><li><a href=/methods/endorsements/>endorsements</a></li><li><a href=/methods/featured_tags/>featured_tags</a></li><li><a href=/methods/preferences/>preferences</a></li><li><a href=/methods/followed_tags/>followed_tags</a></li><li><a href=/methods/suggestions/>suggestions</a></li><li><a href=/methods/tags/>tags</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/profile/>profile</a></li><li><a href=/methods/statuses/>statuses</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/media/>media</a></li><li><a href=/methods/polls/>polls</a></li><li><a href=/methods/scheduled_statuses/>scheduled_statuses</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/timelines/>timelines</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/conversations/>conversations</a></li><li><a href=/methods/lists/>lists</a></li><li><a href=/methods/markers/>markers</a></li><li><a href=/methods/streaming/>streaming</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/grouped_notifications/>grouped notifications</a></li><li><a href=/methods/notifications/>notifications</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/push/>push</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/search/>search</a></li><li><a href=/methods/instance/>instance</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/trends/>trends</a></li><li><a href=/methods/directory/>directory</a></li><li><a href=/methods/custom_emojis/>custom_emojis</a></li><li><a href=/methods/announcements/>announcements</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/>admin</a><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/methods/admin/accounts/>accounts</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/canonical_email_blocks/>canonical_email_blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/dimensions/>dimensions</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/domain_allows/>domain_allows</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/domain_blocks/>domain_blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/email_domain_blocks/>email_domain_blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/ip_blocks/>ip_blocks</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/measures/>measures</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/reports/>reports</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/retention/>retention</a></li><li><a href=/methods/admin/trends/>trends</a></li></ul></li><li><a href=/methods/proofs/>proofs</a></li><li><a href=/methods/oembed/>oembed</a></li></ul></li><li><span class=sub-title>API Entities</span><ul class=sub-menu><li><a href=/entities/Account/>Account</a></li><li><a href=/entities/AccountWarning/>AccountWarning</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Account/>Admin::Account</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_CanonicalEmailBlock/>Admin::CanonicalEmailBlock</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Cohort/>Admin::Cohort</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Dimension/>Admin::Dimension</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_DomainAllow/>Admin::DomainAllow</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_DomainBlock/>Admin::DomainBlock</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_EmailDomainBlock/>Admin::EmailDomainBlock</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Ip/>Admin::Ip</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_IpBlock/>Admin::IpBlock</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Measure/>Admin::Measure</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Admin_Report/>Admin::Report</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Announcement/>Announcement</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Appeal/>Appeal</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Application/>Application</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Context/>Context</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Conversation/>Conversation</a></li><li><a href=/entities/CustomEmoji/>CustomEmoji</a></li><li><a href=/entities/DomainBlock/>DomainBlock</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Error/>Error</a></li><li><a href=/entities/ExtendedDescription/>ExtendedDescription</a></li><li><a href=/entities/FamiliarFollowers/>FamiliarFollowers</a></li><li><a href=/entities/FeaturedTag/>FeaturedTag</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Filter/>Filter</a></li><li><a href=/entities/FilterKeyword/>FilterKeyword</a></li><li><a href=/entities/FilterResult/>FilterResult</a></li><li><a href=/entities/FilterStatus/>FilterStatus</a></li><li><a href=/entities/IdentityProof/>IdentityProof</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Instance/>Instance</a></li><li><a href=/entities/List/>List</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Marker/>Marker</a></li><li><a href=/entities/MediaAttachment/>MediaAttachment</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Notification/>Notification</a></li><li><a href=/entities/NotificationPolicy/>NotificationPolicy</a></li><li><a href=/entities/NotificationRequest/>NotificationRequest</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Poll/>Poll</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Preferences/>Preferences</a></li><li><a href=/entities/PreviewCard/>PreviewCard</a></li><li><a href=/entities/PreviewCardAuthor/>PreviewCardAuthor</a></li><li><a href=/entities/PrivacyPolicy/>PrivacyPolicy</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Reaction/>Reaction</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Relationship/>Relationship</a></li><li><a href=/entities/RelationshipSeveranceEvent/>RelationshipSeveranceEvent</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Report/>Report</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Role/>Role</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Rule/>Rule</a></li><li><a href=/entities/ScheduledStatus/>ScheduledStatus</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Search/>Search</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Status/>Status</a></li><li><a href=/entities/StatusEdit/>StatusEdit</a></li><li><a href=/entities/StatusSource/>StatusSource</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Suggestion/>Suggestion</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Tag/>Tag</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Token/>Token</a></li><li><a href=/entities/Translation/>Translation</a></li><li><a href=/entities/V1_Filter/>V1::Filter</a></li><li><a href=/entities/V1_Instance/>V1::Instance</a></li><li><a href=/entities/V1_NotificationPolicy/>V1::NotificationPolicy</a></li><li><a href=/entities/WebPushSubscription/>WebPushSubscription</a></li></ul></li></ul></nav><main><h1>What is Mastodon?</h1><p>Welcome to the Mastodon documentation!</p><div class=e-content><h2 class=heading id=microblogging><span class=heading__text>What is a microblog?</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#microblogging><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h2><p>Similar to how blogging is the act of publishing updates to a website, <strong>microblogging</strong> is the act of publishing small updates to a stream of updates on your profile. You can publish text posts and optionally attach media such as pictures, audio, video, or polls. Mastodon lets you follow friends and discover new ones.</p><h2 class=heading id=federation><span class=heading__text>What is federation?</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#federation><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h2><p><strong>Federation</strong> is a form of decentralization. Instead of a single central service that all people use, there are multiple services, that any number of people can use.</p><table><thead><tr><th style=text-align:left>Grade of centralization</th><th style=text-align:left>Examples</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style=text-align:left>Centralized</td><td style=text-align:left>Twitter, Facebook, Instagram</td></tr><tr><td style=text-align:left>Federated</td><td style=text-align:left>Email, XMPP, phone networks, physical mail</td></tr><tr><td style=text-align:left>Distributed</td><td style=text-align:left>BitTorrent, IPFS, Scuttlebutt</td></tr></tbody></table><p>A Mastodon website can operate alone. Just like a traditional website, people sign up on it, post messages, upload pictures and talk to each other. <em>Unlike</em> a traditional website, Mastodon websites can interoperate, letting their users communicate with each other; just like you can send an email from your Gmail account to someone from Outlook, Fastmail, Protonmail, or any other email provider, as long as you know their email address, <strong>you can mention or message anyone on any website using their address</strong>.</p><figure><img src=/assets/network-models.jpg alt="From left to right: Centralized, Federated, Distributed"><figcaption><p>From left to right: Centralized, Federated, Distributed</p></figcaption></figure><h2 class=heading id=fediverse><span class=heading__text>What is ActivityPub?</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#fediverse><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h2><p>Mastodon uses a standardized, open protocol to implement federation. It is called <strong>ActivityPub</strong>. Any software that likewise implements federation via ActivityPub can seamlessly communicate with Mastodon, just like Mastodon websites communicate with one another.</p><p>The <strong>fediverse</strong> (“federated universe”) is the name for all websites that can communicate with each other over ActivityPub and the World Wide Web. That includes all Mastodon servers, but also other implementations:</p><ul><li>Pleroma, a modular microblogging engine</li><li>Pixelfed, federated image sharing platform, which lets you share and consume media posts</li><li>Misskey, which includes microblogging alongside a customizable dashboard</li><li>PeerTube, which lets you upload videos to channels</li><li>Plume, which lets you publish longer-form articles</li><li>And many more, including individual and personal websites!</li></ul><p>The fediverse does not have its own brand, so you might more often hear “follow me on Mastodon” than “follow me on the fediverse”, but technically the latter is more correct.</p><h2 class=heading id=implications><span class=heading__text>Practical implications</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#implications><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h2><h3 class=heading id=choice><span class=heading__text>Choice of service provider and policy</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#choice><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h3><p>Because Mastodon is just software that can be used to power any website, potential users of Mastodon have the option of choosing a service provider from already-existing Mastodon websites, or to create their own Mastodon website if they wish. The Mastodon project maintains a list of recommended service providers at <a href=https://joinmastodon.org>joinmastodon.org</a>, sortable by category and/or language. Some websites may have moderation policies that go beyond this, such as requiring the use of certain tags on potentially sensitive content, and some websites may have more relaxed moderation policies, but websites listed in the picker all agree to adopt the <a href=https://joinmastodon.org/covenant>Mastodon Server Covenant</a>, meaning that they pledge to actively moderate against hate speech, to take daily backups, to have at least one emergency admin, and to provide at least 3 months advance notice in case of shutdown.</p><blockquote><p>Maintaining communities that feel safe for all of its members is not easy. Mastodon provides a lot of foundational framework and tools for doing it, and shifts the power to effect change from one commercial entity to the communities themselves.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Jul 6 2018, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/07/cage-the-mastodon/>“Cage the Mastodon”</a></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>A centralized social media platform has a hierarchical structure where rules and their enforcement, as well as the development and direction of the platform, are decided by the CEO […] A decentralized network deliberately relinquishes control of the platform owner, by essentially not having one.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Dec 30 2018, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/12/why-does-decentralization-matter/>“Why does decentralization matter?”</a></p></blockquote><h3 class=heading id=monetization><span class=heading__text>Funding and monetization</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#monetization><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h3><p>Mastodon websites are operated by different people or organizations completely independently. Mastodon does not implement any monetization strategies in the software.</p><p>Some server operators choose to offer paid accounts, some server operators are companies who can utilize their existing infrastructure, some server operators rely on crowdfunding from their users via Patreon and similar services, and some server operators are just paying out-of-pocket for a personal server for themselves and maybe some friends. So if you want to support the server hosting your account, check if it offers a way to donate.</p><p>Mastodon development is likewise crowdfunded via <a href=https://patreon.com/mastodon>Patreon</a> and via <a href=https://opencollective.com/mastodon>OpenCollective</a>. <strong>No venture capital is involved.</strong></p><blockquote><p>In my opinion, “instant, public, global messaging and conversation” should, in fact, be <em>global</em>. Distributed between independent organizations and actors who can self-govern. A public utility, without incentives to exploit the conversations for profit.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Mar 3 2018, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/03/twitter-is-not-a-public-utility/>“Twitter is not a public utility”</a></p></blockquote><h3 class=heading id=interoperability><span class=heading__text>Interoperability between different software</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#interoperability><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h3><p>In practical terms: Imagine if you could follow an Instagram user from your Twitter account and comment on their photos without leaving your account. If Twitter and Instagram were federated services that used the same protocol, that would be possible. With a Mastodon account, <strong>you can communicate with any other compatible website,</strong> <em><strong>even if it is not running on Mastodon</strong></em>. All that is necessary is that the software support the same subset of the ActivityPub protocol that allows for creating and interacting with status updates. To find out more about the technical specifications required to interoperate with Mastodon, see <a href=/spec/activitypub/>ActivityPub</a>, <a href=/spec/webfinger/>WebFinger</a>, and <a href=/spec/security/>Security</a>. To read more about what ActivityPub allows us to do, see <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/06/why-activitypub-is-the-future/>Why ActivityPub is the future</a>.</p><blockquote><p>All of these platforms are different and they focus on different needs. And yet, the foundation is all the same: people subscribing to receive posts from other people. And so, they are all compatible.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Jun 27 2018, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/06/why-activitypub-is-the-future/>“Why ActivityPub is the future”</a></p></blockquote><h3 class=heading id=libre><span class=heading__text>Free/libre software</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#libre><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h3><p>Unlike proprietary services, <strong>anyone has the complete freedom to run, examine, inspect, copy, modify, distribute, and reuse the Mastodon source code, provided they guarantee the same freedoms for any derivative work.</strong> Just like how users of Mastodon can choose their service provider, you as an individual are free to contribute features to Mastodon or publish a modified version of Mastodon that includes different features. These modified versions, also known as software forks, are required to also uphold the same freedoms as the original Mastodon project. For example, <a href=https://glitch-soc.github.io/docs/>glitch-soc</a> is a software distribution that adds various experimental features. Many individual forks exist as well, perhaps themed slightly differently or including small modifications to the codebase. Because Mastodon is libre software that respects your freedom, personalizations like these are not only allowed but encouraged.</p><blockquote><p>The ultimate power is in giving people the ability to create their own spaces, their own communities, to modify the software as they see fit, but without sacrificing the ability of people from different communities to interact with each other.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Feb 20 2017, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2017/02/the-power-to-build-communities/>“The power to build communities: A response to Mark Zuckerberg”</a></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Decentralization is biodiversity of the digital world, the hallmark of a healthy ecosystem. A decentralized network like the fediverse allows different user interfaces, different software, different forms of government to co-exist and cooperate.</p><p>– Eugen Rochko, Dec 30 2018, <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2018/12/why-does-decentralization-matter/>“Why does decentralization matter?”</a></p></blockquote><h2 class=heading id=next-steps><span class=heading__text>Choose your path</span> <a class=heading__anchor-link href=#next-steps><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M10.59 13.41c.41.39.41 1.03.0 1.42-.39.39-1.03.39-1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l3.54-3.54a5.003 5.003.0 017.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-1.49 1.49c.01-.82-.12-1.64-.4-2.42l.47-.48a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24 2.98 2.98.0 00-4.24.0l-3.53 3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24m2.82-4.24c.39-.39 1.03-.39 1.42.0a5.003 5.003.0 010 7.07l-3.54 3.54a5.003 5.003.0 01-7.07.0 5.003 5.003.0 010-7.07l1.49-1.49c-.01.82.12 1.64.4 2.43l-.47.47a2.98 2.98.0 000 4.24 2.98 2.98.0 004.24.0l3.53-3.53a2.98 2.98.0 000-4.24.973.973.0 010-1.42"/></svg></a></h2><p>Learn how to use Mastodon:</p><a href=/user/signup/ class=page-ref><div class=page-ref-icon><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M4 11v2h12l-5.5 5.5 1.42 1.42L19.84 12l-7.92-7.92L10.5 5.5 16 11z"/></svg></div>Signing up for an account</a><p>Learn how to install Mastodon:</p><a href=/admin/prerequisites/ class=page-ref><div class=page-ref-icon><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M4 11v2h12l-5.5 5.5 1.42 1.42L19.84 12l-7.92-7.92L10.5 5.5 16 11z"/></svg></div>Preparing your machine</a><p>Learn how to write an app for Mastodon:</p><a href=/client/intro/ class=page-ref><div class=page-ref-icon><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M4 11v2h12l-5.5 5.5 1.42 1.42L19.84 12l-7.92-7.92L10.5 5.5 16 11z"/></svg></div>Getting started with the API</a><p>Learn about the Mastodon backend and how to contribute:</p><a href=/dev/overview/ class=page-ref><div class=page-ref-icon><svg width="32" height="32" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentcolor" d="M4 11v2h12l-5.5 5.5 1.42 1.42L19.84 12l-7.92-7.92L10.5 5.5 16 11z"/></svg></div>Technical overview</a><p style=color:#606085>Last updated January 14, 2024 · <a href=https://github.com/mastodon/documentation/tree/main/content/en/_index.md style=color:#606085>Improve this page</a><br>Also available in: <a href=/zh-cn/ style=color:#606085 hreflang=zh-cn>简体中文</a> <a href=/ja/ style=color:#606085 hreflang=ja>日本語</a> <a href=/pl/ style=color:#606085 hreflang=pl>Polski</a></p></div></main></div><footer class="footer container"><div class=sponsorship><div class=container><h2>Sponsored by</h2><div class=logo-grid><div><a href=https://www.dotcom-monitor.com/es/><img src=/assets/sponsors/dotcom-monitor-logo.png alt=Dotcom-Monitor> </a><a href=https://www.loadview-testing.com/products/jmeter-load-testing/><img src=/assets/sponsors/LoadView-logo.png alt=LoadView> </a><a href=http://www.stevetures.com/><img src=/assets/sponsors/stephen-tures.jpg alt="Stephen Tures"> </a><a href=https://swayable.com><img src=/assets/sponsors/swayable.jpeg alt=Swayable> </a><a href=https://www.sponsormotion.com/><img src=/assets/sponsors/SponsorMotion.png alt=SponsorMotion></a></div></div></div></div><p class="legal legal--right"><a href=https://joinmastodon.org>Join Mastodon</a> · <a href=https://blog.joinmastodon.org>Blog</a> · <a href=https://mastodon.social/@Mastodon target=_blank><svg width="16" height="16" fill="currentcolor" class="bi bi-mastodon" viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path d="M11.19 12.195c2.016-.24 3.77-1.475 3.99-2.603.348-1.778.32-4.339.32-4.339.0-3.47-2.286-4.488-2.286-4.488C12.062.238 10.083.017 8.027.0h-.05C5.92.017 3.942.238 2.79.765c0 0-2.285 1.017-2.285 4.488l-.002.662c-.004.64-.007 1.35.011 2.091.083 3.394.626 6.74 3.78 7.57 1.454.383 2.703.463 3.709.408 1.823-.1 2.847-.647 2.847-.647l-.06-1.317s-1.303.41-2.767.36c-1.45-.05-2.98-.156-3.215-1.928a4 4 0 01-.033-.496s1.424.346 3.228.428c1.103.05 2.137-.064 3.188-.189zm1.613-2.47H11.13v-4.08c0-.859-.364-1.295-1.091-1.295-.804.0-1.207.517-1.207 1.541v2.233H7.168V5.89c0-1.024-.403-1.541-1.207-1.541-.727.0-1.091.436-1.091 1.296v4.079H3.197V5.522q0-1.288.66-2.046c.456-.505 1.052-.764 1.793-.764.856.0 1.504.328 1.933.983L8 4.39l.417-.695c.429-.655 1.077-.983 1.934-.983.74.0 1.336.259 1.791.764q.662.757.661 2.046z"/></svg></a></p><p class=legal><a href=https://github.com/mastodon/documentation/tree/main/content/en/_index.md>View source</a> · <a href=https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/>CC BY-SA 4.0</a> · <a href=https://joinmastodon.org/imprint>Imprint</a></p></footer></body></html>