What does 'TL;DR' mean in online discussions?
Answer
Too Long; Didn't Read
“Too Long; Didn’t Read” is what TL;DR means in online discussions. Writers commonly place the abbreviation before a short summary of a longer post, article, email, or argument.
The expression serves two related purposes. It can introduce a concise version—“TL;DR: the proposal passed”—or describe a reader’s response to text they skipped because it was lengthy. Punctuation and capitalization vary: TL;DR, TLDR, and tl;dr are all encountered, but they represent the same internet shorthand.
The phrase is documented at least as far back as 2002, when it appeared in a message on the Usenet newsgroup rec.games.video.nintendo. It later spread through blogs, forums, social media, and online journalism. As internet writing became longer and information more abundant, TL;DR became a practical signpost for readers scanning for the main point.
It is sometimes used dismissively, but many authors now use it helpfully at the top or bottom of an explanation. “BLUF,” meaning “bottom line up front,” is a related writing convention that also puts the key message first.