> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.komunitin.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.komunitin.org/features/social.md).

# Social

The social features help members find each other and exchange goods and services in their community.

## Communities

A community is a local exchange network with its own currency. It has a name, logo, description, location, contact details and membership terms. Community administrators manage these details, membership applications and categories.

Each member, offer, need and category belongs to one community.

## Members

A member can be a person, a business or an organization. Their profile describes who they are, where they are and how to contact them. Each member is linked to a community currency account.

One login can manage several member profiles, for example a personal profile and a business profile, or memberships in different communities. Several people can also share a member profile without sharing a password.

New members accept the community's membership terms and wait for an administrator to approve their application.

## Offers and needs

Members publish **offers** for goods or services they can provide, and **needs** for things they are looking for. Offers can include pictures, a title, a description and a value, such as "8 units/kg" or "request quote". Needs are usually shorter requests.

Members can edit their publications and set an expiry date to keep the marketplace up to date. Expired publications are no longer shown to other members browsing the marketplace.

### Categories

Categories help organize offers and needs, for example "Food", "Healthcare" or "Professional services". Each community can customize its categories. Anyone who can access the community can see its categories.

## Finding people and publications

Members can search for communities, members, offers and needs using words or names. Filters help narrow the results, for example by category or by the member who published an offer. Results can be ordered by date or by distance from a chosen location, making it easier to find nearby exchanges.

## Privacy

Visibility settings control who can see community information, member profiles and publications:

* **Public**: visible to visitors without signing in, including people from other communities.
* **Community**: shared within the community, with full profiles and publications available to its active members.
* **Private**: profiles and publications are available to the people who manage them, rather than other members browsing the marketplace.

Administrators can access information needed to manage their community. Authorized platform services can also access it to provide features such as notifications. Community visibility and membership status can further limit access.

Communities can choose whether visitors may browse their member list. A limited profile with a member's code, name and picture may still be shown where the full profile is hidden. Uploaded pictures are accessible to anyone with their link.