A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and login to the system using a terminal program. Once a user logged in, they could perform functions such as downloading or uploading software and data, reading news, and exchanging messages with other users. Many BBSes also offered online games, in which users could compete with each other, and BBSes with multiple phone lines often offered chat rooms, allowing users to meet each other.