You say Topic or Thread? (Progamming question about English idiom from non-English speaker)

Question

Topic or thread any difference? what do you english speakers think is the correct? im working on a forum and i wonder if you say "topic" or "thread". Hope you understand.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Either one is fine.

Answer 2

"Subject" and "Topic" are words which would be understood by a wider audience (for example, are more likely to be understood by my parents, who are English and computers users but not programmers).

"Thread" is technical jargon, which would be understood by (or example) people who know what usenet is, or who design forums and email user agents.

One of the options on the MS Mail View menu, for example, is Group Messages by Conversation (no mention of 'threads' there).

Answer 3

Topic is the stuff that should be talked about in a thread. This thread is off-topic for example, because it's not about programming :)