Convert from other software: See our importing tutorial for a list of importers.

Use an existing member system: See our download page for a list of forum drivers.

Convert an HTML site into Composr pages

LDAP support for corporate networks (Conversr only)

HTTP authentication: Tie into an existing HTTP authentication-based login system (Conversr only)

Proxying system: Programmers can integrate any existing scripts using our sophisticated proxying system (which includes full cookie support).

Minimodules and miniblocks: Programmers can port existing PHP code into Composr itself without having to strictly conform it to Composr's framework

Intuitive sitemap editor: Visually browse your site structure.

Menu editor: Our user friendly editor can work with several different kinds of menu design (drop-downs, tree menus, pop-ups, etc)

Zones (sub-sites): Organise your pages into separate zones. Zones can have different menus, themes, permissions, and content. They can also use a sub-domain.

Full structural control: Edit, move, and delete existing pages and modules.

Redirects: Set up redirects if you move pages, or if you want pages to appear in more than one zone.

Use Composr for clients and pretend you made it.

We ensure Composr is not hard-coded anywhere in the software where it would appear to an average user.

Responsive design and hi-dpi images

True and correct XHTML5 markup

WCAG, ATAG: Meeting of accessibility guidelines in full.

Tableless CSS markup, with no hacks

Support for all major web browsers

Inbuilt tools for checking webstandards conformance of XHTML5, CSS, and JavaScript

Extra markup semantics including Dublin Core support, schema.org, Open Graph, and microformats.

Standards-based JavaScript (modern DOM and AJAX, no DOM-0 or innerHTML)

Automatic cleanup of bad XHTML5: HTML outside your control (e.g. from RSS) will be cleaned up for you.

Highly optimised code

Can run CDNs

Multiple levels of caching

Sophisticated template compiler

Self-learning optimisation system

Automatic pruning of old cache files when caches get large

Translate Composr into your own language

Translate content into multiple languages

Custom time and date formatting

Language packs: Download new language packs as users post them; host multiple languages on your website at the same time.

Time zone support: Members may choose their own time zones, and dates / times will adapt to them.

Support for different character sets and Unicode

Serve different theme images for different languages

Right-to-left languages possible

Professionally designed user interfaces

AJAX techniques: Streamlined website interaction.

WYSIWYG editing

Tutorials: Over 200 written tutorials, and a growing collection of video tutorials.

Displays great on mobiles: Mobile browsers can be automatically detected, or the user can select the mobile version from the footer. All public website features work great on QVGA or higher. The default theme is also responsive and will adapt to the client screen size.

A consistent and fully integrated feature-set: Breadcrumb navigation, previews, and many other features we didn't have space to mention here – are all present right across Composr.

Supports different URL schemes and textual monikers

Automatic site-map generation: Both XML Sitemaps and sitemaps for users.

Metadata: Meta descriptions and keywords for all content. Auto-summarisation.

Keyword density analysis when previewing content

Correct use of HTTP status codes

Content-contextualised page titles

Semantic and accessible markup (e.g. ‘alt tags')

Compliance with major data protection legislation such as the GDPR

Allow members to download or purge their personal data from their profile. Set a limit on the number of days between downloads / purges to preserve server resources.

Also manage member data to a more technical degree in the Administration Zone.

Allow members to purge their data upon deleting their member account

Composr is careful to maintain important data (such as warnings or bans) when members request their data to be purged from their profile. But this data can still be purged on the admin side (in the Admin Zone).

Automatic generation of a basic Privacy Policy based on site settings and installed addons

Cookie Consent notice

Set declarations on the rules page which members must agree to on registration (or whenever they are changed) which are also stored in the database and e-mailed to the member as a written copy

Automatic detection, logging, notifying, and banning of hackers

2-factor-authentication: E-mail based 2-factor-authentication security when unrecognised IP addresses are used with certain usergroups (optional, Conversr-only).

Password strength checks: Enforce minimum password strengths based on length and use of upper / lower case, numbers, and symbols, and avoiding repeated characters (Conversr-only).

Architectural approaches to combat all major exploit techniques

A JavaScript framework that makes XSS attacks virtually impossible

Defence-in-depth: Multiple layers of built-in security.

Encrypted custom profile fields: Once set the CPF can't be read unless a key password is entered (Conversr-only, requires OpenSSL).

Extensive support and use of Content Security Policy (CSP)

Track failed logins and automatically ban brute-force attacks

HTML filtering

Protection against CSRF attacks: Forms and AJAX requests make use of randomly generated POST tokens

Root-kit detection kit for developers

Cookies are secure and HttpOnly where possible to prevent session hijacking

Set number of days that passwords expire or must be changed

• .jpg/.jpeg: Highly compressed, best for photos due to minimal noticeable quality loss.
• .png: Good compression with no quality loss, ideal if bandwidth isn't a concern.
• .gif: Limited to 256 colors and poor compression. Better alternatives are video or APNG.

• .mp4 (h.264 aac encoding): The recommended format, widely supported.
• .mov (h.264 aac encoding): Identical to .mp4.
• .webm: Supported natively in most browsers, but requires plugins for Internet Explorer/Microsoft Edge and Safari.

• Forum Groupings: Broad categories that contain forums.
• Forums: Contain topics related to a specific subject.
• Sub-forums: Forums nested under other forums, providing further categorization.
• Topics: Threads of conversation containing a series of posts.
• Posts: Individual messages within a topic.

• Email Tracking: Composr marks emails as read when processing posts. Marking an email unread will trigger re-processing.
• Log File: Create an empty file named data_custom/mail_integration.log to capture detailed log data for troubleshooting.

• Forum View Access: Determine which usergroups can view each forum.
• Privilege Overrides: Grant or deny specific privileges (e.g., posting) to usergroups within a forum.
• Bypass Validation: Allow trusted members to post without moderation (or vice versa, require validation for certain usergroups).

• Advanced Polls: Blind polls, forcing or setting of default options, and point-weighting.
• Private Topics: More sophisticated than traditional private messages.
• Forum Introduction Questions: A flexible way to control access and encourage engagement (e.g. forum-specific rules or forum passwords).
• Cascading Topics: Pinned topics that appear in multiple forums.
• Integrated Moderation: Streamlined moderation tools within the forum interface.

• Control Result Visibility: Choose whether results are visible before voting.
• Require Topic Reply: Force users to reply to the topic before voting.
• Show Voter Identities: Optionally display which members voted for each option.
• Allow Vote Revocation: Let voters change their vote while the poll is open.
• Set Voting Close Time: Define a specific date or time for the poll to close.
• Restrict Selections: Limit the number of options voters can choose.
• Allow Guest Voting: Enable voting for unregistered users.
• Weight Votes by Points: Give more influential members greater voting power (requires the points addon).

• Regular Posts: Standard posts made by members within a topic.
• Quick Replies: Shorter replies made directly from the topic view.
• Anonymous Posts: Members can choose to post anonymously, appearing as a guest. Staff can track the actual user if needed.
• Emphasised posts: Posts made by staff (or marked by staff) which are highlighted to draw attention as they are important.
• Whispers: Private messages embedded within public topics, allowing for side conversations.
• Private Topic Posts: Private messages sent between specific members (e.g. an on-site "inbox").

• PHP IMAP extension installed
• System scheduler (Cron) running
• IMAP-compatible mail server

• Mail server enforces SPF and DKIM for email validation
• Mail server limits email size to prevent abuse
• System scheduler runs frequently (e.g., every minute) so members get prompt updates