r/whatisthisthing

1.3M archived posts · Sep 2010 – Sep 2026

For the identification of mysterious objects

r/whatisthisthing

For the identification of mysterious objects

Created Sep 5, 2010

2.9MMembers (last snapshot)

1.3MArchived posts

A place to find out what that odd-looking thing that you stumbled across actually is.

Then check FREQUENTLY ASKED THINGS. You may not be aware you have a common item.

THEN READ THIS GUIDE on what to include in your post before posting.

Also, check out our WIKI.

Rules apply to ALL comments, not just top level replies.

Be civil. Being otherwise will get you banned. Reddiquette
Be helpful / No Jokes Jokes and other unhelpful comments, even after the item has been identified, are bannable offenses, even on first offense. If your comment doesn't help, don't comment.
Try to include a link to a source of some sort when posting an answer. Everyone's got an opinion, facts help.
When what you're looking for is found, reply "Solved!" to the earliest comment with the answer.
DO NOT DELETE YOUR POST after an attempt has been made to answer, or if you intend to repost to get visibility. This will result in at least a temporary ban.
Be detailed with your post title as well as the information therein, in order to help those trying to help you. This will help to eliminate vague posts.
Do not post AI generated answers. AI rarely offers anything of value and never provides sources to its claims. By all means use AI to assist, but please investigate its answers and provide your own proof of its claims. Straight copy/paste answers will be removed and the user banned.
Do not use URL shorteners or affiliate links in the body of posts or replies ( anything with lots of parameters after a '?') - they will be automatically removed.
Check the F.A.T. Check the Frequently Asked Things before posting.
Posts must adhere to submission guidelines All posts must adhere to the submission guidelines.

##Other Helpful Subreddits

Your submission is likely to be removed if it better fits one of these:

/r/HelpMeFind if you know what it is and want to find where you can get one or find more information on it
/r/tipofmytongue if you know of a movie, game, song, etc. - but cannot recall the name.
/r/translator for translation of writing
/r/AskDocs for health/medical related things
/r/AskVet for animal health/medical related things
/r/whatsthisbug for weird bug identification (& nests/eggs)
/r/whatsthisbird for bird identification
/r/whatsthisplant for plant identification
/r/whatsthisrock for rock identification (or, dammit Marie, minerals!)
/r/whatisthispainting for paintings, artists signatures
/r/whatsthisworth if you know what it is, and want to find out what it's worth
/r/whereisthis if you have a picture of a location but don't know where it is
More helpful subreddits.

Reddit Rebuilt is an independent, non-commercial archive and is not affiliated with Reddit, Inc. Content belongs to its original authors.