Instances and Servers
Basic notes about Fediverse instances and servers.
An instance is a server that hosts users and connects to other Fediverse servers.
What is an instance?
An instance is a Fediverse server.
Example:
- example.social
- community.example
- mastodon.example
An instance can have:
- users
- rules
- admins
- moderators
- local timeline
- custom emojis
- federation settings
- community culture
Instance vs platform
The platform is the software.
The instance is one server running that software.
Examples:
- Mastodon = platform/software
- example.social = instance/server
- Pixelfed = platform/software
- photos.example = instance/server
Why instances matter
Instances are important because they shape the user experience.
Each instance can decide:
- who can join
- which rules apply
- what content is allowed
- which other servers are blocked
- which other servers are limited
- which custom emojis are available
- how moderation is handled
This means two people can both use Mastodon, but have very different community experiences depending on their instance.
Local timeline
The local timeline shows public posts from users on the same instance.
Example:
- All public posts from people on example.social
This can make an instance feel like a small community.
Federated timeline
The federated timeline shows posts known to the instance from other servers.
It is not the entire Fediverse.
It may include posts from:
- remote users followed by local users
- posts boosted by known accounts
- servers the instance has interacted with
- remote accounts searched by users
Home timeline
The home timeline shows posts from accounts you follow.
For many users, the home timeline is the most important timeline.
Open registration
Some instances allow anyone to sign up.
This is called open registration.
Benefits:
- easy to join
- low barrier for new users
- good for public communities
Risks:
- more spam risk
- more moderation work
- more abuse handling
Invite-only registration
Some instances require an invite or admin approval.
Benefits:
- more controlled growth
- less spam
- stronger community feeling
- easier moderation
Downsides:
- harder for new people to join
- less open discovery
- more admin work
Single-user instance
A single-user instance is a Fediverse server mainly used by one person.
Benefits:
- full control
- personal identity
- custom domain
- custom rules
- independent presence
Challenges:
- maintenance
- updates
- backups
- moderation decisions
- federation problems
- server costs
Community instance
A community instance hosts multiple people around a shared interest or identity.
Examples:
- artists
- photographers
- writers
- Linux users
- local city/community
- language group
- hobby group
Community instances usually need clearer rules and moderation.
Admins
Admins manage the instance.
They may handle:
- server configuration
- updates
- user accounts
- domain blocks
- reports
- moderation decisions
- custom emojis
- server announcements
- backups
Moderators
Moderators help enforce rules and handle reports.
They may:
- review reports
- warn users
- remove posts
- limit accounts
- suspend accounts
- help keep the community safe
On small instances, admins and moderators may be the same people.
Server rules
Each instance should have clear rules.
Rules may cover:
- harassment
- hate speech
- spam
- NSFW content
- bots
- commercial posting
- AI-generated content
- content warnings
- language expectations
- illegal content
Users should read the rules before joining.
Federation choices
Instances can choose how they federate with others.
They may:
- allow other servers
- limit other servers
- block other servers
- silence problematic servers
- reject media from certain servers
This affects what users can see and who can interact with them.
Domain blocks
A domain block is when one instance blocks or limits another instance.
Reasons may include:
- spam
- abuse
- harassment
- bad moderation
- illegal content
- malware
- large-scale trolling
Domain blocks are part of how instances protect their communities.
Instance culture
Instance culture is the social feeling of a server.
It can be shaped by:
- rules
- admins
- moderation style
- local timeline
- shared interests
- language
- custom emojis
- posting habits
- community expectations
Choosing an instance is not only a technical choice. It is also a social choice.
Moving instances
Users may move from one instance to another.
Reasons:
- better community fit
- different rules
- server closing
- technical problems
- admin decisions
- personal preference
Moving may allow followers to migrate, but not everything moves perfectly.
Posts may not transfer depending on the platform and tools.
How to choose an instance
Questions to ask:
- Do I like the rules?
- Is registration open or invite-only?
- Is the instance active?
- Does the local timeline feel comfortable?
- Are the admins transparent?
- Does it allow the content I want to post?
- Does it block servers I care about?
- Does it have a topic or community I like?