An
invitation system (or
invite system) is one method of
websiteA website is a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed with a common domain name or IP address in an Internet Protocol-based network...
registration. Unlike open registration, where all users can join, and closed registration, where there is a moratorium on new users joining, invites allow current users to select who can join, while allowing site administrators to maintain a stronghold on the population of the service.
Existing users receive a set number of invitations (sometimes called "invite tokens" or "invite codes") to allow others to join the service.
An
invitation system (or
invite system) is one method of
websiteA website is a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed with a common domain name or IP address in an Internet Protocol-based network...
registration. Unlike open registration, where all users can join, and closed registration, where there is a moratorium on new users joining, invites allow current users to select who can join, while allowing site administrators to maintain a stronghold on the population of the service.
Existing users receive a set number of invitations (sometimes called "invite tokens" or "invite codes") to allow others to join the service. Those invited are either sent a specialized
URLIn computing, a Uniform Resource Locator is a subset of the Uniform Resource Identifier that specifies where an identified resource is available and the mechanism for retrieving it. In popular usage and in many technical documents and verbal discussions it is often incorrectly used as a synonym...
, or have to enter a single-use code.
Applications
Invitation systems are usually temporary. They are typically used for services in private beta testing, in order to control the number of users on the service. In other cases, they can be used due to limited availability of
serverA server is an application running on a computer that delivers a service. For example, a web server will deliver web pages when requested by a browser . The way a server and a client dialogs is called a protocol...
resources. Rarely, they may be used on a permanent basis, in order to aggregate
social networkA social network is a social structure made of individuals called "nodes," which are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as friendship, kinship, financial exchange, dislike, sexual relationships, or relationships of beliefs, knowledge or prestige.Social network analysis...
statistics (all users will ultimately have a traceable connection to all others). They can additionally be used to avoid trolling or
spammersSpam is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...
(all users trust all others), which is usually a positive side effect of the invitation system, even if it was unintentional.
Variations
Sometimes, a tiered invitation system may be in place, wherein those higher up on the pyramid will receive copious amounts of invitations to hand out, whereas fourth- or fifth-generation invitees (of which there are a lot more, potentially) may receive few or none.
Examples
Some prominent services which were once invitation-based include
e-mailElectronic mail, often abbreviated as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages, designed primarily for human use...
provider
GmailGmail is a free webmail, POP3, and IMAP service provided by Google. In Germany it is officially called Google Mail.Gmail was launched as an invitation-only beta release on April 1, 2004 and it became available to the general public on February 7, 2007, though still with beta status. ,it has 146...
, social networking service
OrkutOrkut is a free-access social networking service owned and operated by Google. The service is designed to help users meet new friends and maintain existing relationships...
and journal/
blogA blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order...
site
LiveJournalLiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community...
.
Oink's Pink PalaceOink's Pink Palace was a prominent BitTorrent tracker located at , which operated from May 30, 2004 until October 23, 2007, when it was shut down by British and Dutch police agencies after a two-year investigation by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and the British...
, a
BitTorrent trackerA BitTorrent tracker is a server that assists in the communication between peers using the BitTorrent protocol. It is also, in the absence of extensions to the original protocol, the only major critical point, as clients are required to communicate with the tracker to initiate downloads...
, was invitation only until its forced shutdown in
October 2007October 2007 is the tenth month of that year. It began on a Monday and 31 days later, ended on a Wednesday.- International holidays :* October 2 - Gandhi Jayanti * October 3 - Last 3rd of Ramadan which includes Laylat al-Qadr...
.