How are posts ranked on Reddit?

Posts on Reddit are ranked primarily based on a combination of factors, including the number of upvotes, the rate of upvotes relative to the post's age, and other engagement metrics. The specific algorithms used to rank posts may vary slightly between different parts of the site, but the general principles are consistent across Reddit. Here's how posts are typically ranked:

1. **Upvotes and Downvotes**: The number of upvotes and downvotes a post receives is a key factor in its ranking. Posts with a higher number of upvotes are generally ranked higher, while posts with a higher number of downvotes are ranked lower. However, the score of a post (total upvotes minus total downvotes) is often displayed instead of the raw vote counts.

2. **Time Decay**: Reddit's algorithms take into account the age of a post and the rate at which it's receiving upvotes. Newer posts that receive a high number of upvotes quickly are often ranked higher than older posts with the same number of upvotes. This is to ensure that fresh and timely content has a chance to be seen by users.

3. **Engagement Metrics**: In addition to upvotes and downvotes, other engagement metrics such as comments, shares, and awards may also influence a post's ranking. Posts that generate a lot of discussion, interaction, and engagement from users are often ranked higher than posts with fewer interactions.

4. **Community Specificity**: In some cases, posts may be ranked differently within specific subreddits based on the rules, guidelines, and preferences of that community. Subreddit moderators may have their own customizations or adjustments to the ranking algorithms to better suit the needs and preferences of their community members.

5. **Personalization**: Reddit's algorithms may also personalize the ranking of posts based on a user's browsing history, voting patterns, and subscriptions. This means that different users may see slightly different rankings for the same posts based on their individual preferences and interests.

Overall, Reddit's ranking algorithms aim to surface the most relevant, engaging, and timely content to users based on a combination of factors including upvotes, time decay, engagement metrics, community specificity, and personalization. The goal is to provide users with a dynamic and diverse feed of content that aligns with their interests and preferences.