Please help us to help you.

• What do you want to know?
• Tell us where (in the world) you are
• Describe the thing - how big? material, mass, etc.
• Give us some context
• Post a clear, well-lit, in-focus, large format image
• Include something for scale
• Small items should be photographed up close
• Large items should be photographed from a proper distance enough to see the entire item
• Manufacturer's markings help us immensely, even if they look like gibberish to you
  You can typically locate manufacturer's markings on the bottom, base, or underside of an object
  
• Production tags, inserts, or attachments such as a label or stamp also help us identify objects

Rules for /r/Whatisthis

Rules that visitors must follow to participate. May be used as reasons to report or ban.

• 1) The "Be Nice" rule

Be helpful. Don't be an ass. Follow reddiquette, our rules, and the reddit TOS, or be banned. This is rule 1 for a reason. We mean it. Be nice, or be elsewhere.

Just say what it is, or ask for more info.

Your top level comment must either (1) specifically identify the item in question, or (2) ask the OP for more information. It should NOT consist of, or even include, any form of joking. Comments like, "Gosh, that looks like your mom's sex toy. But actually it's a knitting needle" are NOT helpful and will be removed, even if it is actually a knitting needle. Comments that attempt to provide some sort of context info to the OP ("Knitting is a widespread hobby, and did you know that Mr. Rogers’ mother knit all his sweaters?") are also NOT HELPFUL, as they don't identify the item.

Please be considerate of the original poster as all top level comments are sent to their inbox. They want genuine ANSWERS, not JOKES and other unhelpful responses

A "TOP LEVEL" comment is any comment added using the large text box visible when the OP's post is opened. It does not mean a highly upvoted comment. Rule 2 applies even if the post has been solved.

If you’re replying to someone ELSE's comment, feel free to joke or discuss there as this is a lower level comment. As long as you're following reddiquette and Rule 1, we don't police comments on comments.

We don't establish values or help in locating things, and this isn't the place to buy or sell things. Try /r/whatsthisworth or /r/helpmefind.

We don't allow posts requesting medical information. This includes requests to identify pills, capsules, or any other drug or possible drug. We're not doctors. Try in /r/askdocs. If it's something about your pet or livestock, try /r/askvets.

Posts that suggest actions that may harm a person or animal ("taste it" or "hit it with a hammer" or "kill it with fire") are not allowed, will be removed, and will subject you to a ban.

Your title should include the geographic location of where the object was found (e.g. "Northern England"), along with more specific location context (e.g. "in my grandmother's garden"), especially if it's something in nature like a plant or animal. Do not submit a title that just includes something like "What is this?" You are in /r/whatisthis. That you want to know what something is is self-evident. Describe the thing to the best of your ability in the title and give the context. Posts whose titles provide no information may be removed.

If there are words on your object, you should have done an internet search for those words.

If you are in a place where you can ask someone, ask them. "What is this in my office?" should be directed at your boss. "What is this in my apartment?" should be directed at your landlord. "What is this in my egg foo yung?" should be directed to your server. If you can take time to photograph it, you can take time to ask someone on the spot.

Violations of this are subject to removal.

If you know what it is, but want more info, please try a more specific subreddit. "What's this old car?" means you know it's a car, so ask in /r/cars. "Can you tell me about this sword?" means you know it's a sword, ask first in /r/swords. Use /r/findareddit to find the most appropriate sub. There's also a list of other helpful identification subreddits in the sidebar (or, for mobile users, in the "about" info). If you're looking for something (If your post says "Where can I get one of these?" or words to that effect) please repost in /r/helpmefind. Posts that violate this may be removed/redirected.

We only allow link posts, so a descriptive title is important. You should be providing clear photographs, of all sides of the object if possible, including any text (which you will, of course, have already googled). We recommend Imgur for image hosting: upload all of your images into a single album, and post a link to the album as your post. It's free and easy. If you have additional context beyond the title, please make a top-level comment on your own post with as much extra information as you have.

If your unidentified item is on another website, or is another website, please post a screenshot rather than a link to a web page; many people will not click an unidentified link. Provide a link or the URL in a comment. Posts that violate this may be removed.

 • /r/WhatIsThis Photo Gallery

 • Today's Open Cases
 • Today's Solved Cases

 • This Week's Open Cases
 • This Week's Solved Cases

Other Helpful Subreddits:

• /r/whatsthisbird
• /r/whatsthisbug
• /r/whatsthisfish
• /r/whatsthisplant
• /r/WhatIsThisPainting
• /r/whatsthisrock
• /r/IdentifyThisFont
• /r/animalid
• /r/Hallmarks
• /r/coins
• /r/fossilid
• /r/Horticulture
• /r/mycology
• /r/species
• /r/spiders
• /r/WildlifeRehab
• /r/Tools
• /r/translation
• /r/translator

If you need help finding a Subreddit: /r/findareddit

 • New to reddit? Click here!