# Read an article ## Read an article An article is a page with a title, body, and tags that you read before deciding whether to comment, follow its author, favorite it, or use an article action. Start with [Before you start](#before-you-start), then find and open the article. | If you need to… | Go to | | --- | --- | | Read the article and its tags | [Understand the reading surface](#understand-the-reading-surface) | | Add a comment or use a favorite or follow action | [Comment on and react to an article](#comment-on-and-react-to-an-article) | | Choose an author or reader action | [Handle author and reader actions](#handle-author-and-reader-actions) | | Continue to another article | [Discover articles](doc:discover-articles) | | Open the author's profile | [View a profile](doc:view-a-profile) | | See articles you favorited | [View favorited articles](doc:view-favorited-articles) | | Edit an article you authored | [Edit an article](doc:edit-an-article) | ## Before you start The Article route displays an existing article and its comments. Have the article route available, and sign in before you comment, follow an author, or favorite an article. **Prerequisites** - Know which existing article you want to open. - Have the article route available. - Sign in before commenting, following an author, or favoriting an article. When these prerequisites are in place, continue to [Find and open an article](#find-and-open-an-article). ## Find and open an article Use the article-discovery pages to choose an existing article, then open its Article route. The article and its comments load before the page is displayed. **Steps** 1. Open [Discover articles](doc:discover-articles). 2. Select the article you want to read. 3. Open the article route provided for the article. 4. If you are signed out, select **Sign in** to authenticate before commenting or using an interaction that requires sign-in. **Result:** The selected article opens with its title, body, tags, author information, and comments area on screen. Continue to [Understand the reading surface](#understand-the-reading-surface). ## Understand the reading surface The reading surface combines the article content with author information, tags, comments, and actions that depend on who you are. | Area | What you use it for | | --- | --- | | Title | Identify the article you opened. | | Body | Read the article content. | | Tags | Recognize the topics attached to the article. | | Author information | Open the author's profile and use article actions. | | Comment area | Read existing comments or enter a comment when signed in. | | Article actions | Edit or delete your article, or follow and favorite another author's article. | The Article route does not contain article-editing fields. When you are the author, select **Edit Article** to move to the editor. **Delete Article** is the author-only action for removing the article; use the editor page for editing. When you can locate the content and the controls you need, continue to [Comment on and react to an article](#comment-on-and-react-to-an-article). ## Comment on and react to an article A comment records your response below the article. Favorite and follow actions are available for an article you did not author; their labels change with the current favorite or follow state. **Prerequisites** - Be signed in to see the comment editor. - Open the article you want to discuss or react to. **Steps** 1. Choose the alternative that matches what you want to do: | If you need to… | Do this | | --- | --- | | Write a response | Enter it in **Write a comment...**, then select **Post Comment**. | | Add the article to your favorites | Select **Favorite Article**. | | Remove the article from your favorites | Select **Unfavorite Article**. | | Start following the author | Select **Follow **. | | Stop following the author | Select **Unfollow **. | | Sign in before using an interaction control | Select **Sign in** at the login screen. | **Result:** Your comment is added to the article's comments after a successful post, or the selected favorite or follow state is applied after a successful interaction. Continue to [Handle author and reader actions](#handle-author-and-reader-actions) when the action depends on your relationship to the article. ## Handle author and reader actions The article page shows different actions for the article author and for another reader. Your signed-in identity determines which set you see. | Your situation | Actions available | | --- | --- | | You are the article author | **Edit Article** and **Delete Article** | | You are signed in but are not the article author | **Follow **, **Unfollow **, **Favorite Article**, or **Unfavorite Article** | | You are signed out | **Sign in** and **sign up** in the comment area; sign-in is required for the interaction controls | **Steps** 1. Select the action that matches your situation: | If you need to… | Select | | --- | --- | | Change an article you authored | **Edit Article** | | Remove an article you authored | **Delete Article** | | Remove a comment you authored | The delete icon in that comment's footer | **Result:** The page presents the action set for your relationship to the article and comment. If an action fails, continue to [When something goes wrong](#when-something-goes-wrong). ## When something goes wrong | What you see | What it means | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | | `Unable to connect to the server` | The client could not connect to the server. | Check the connection and try the action again. | | `Server-provided field and message values` | The server returned validation or other API errors for the action. | Read the message beside its field and correct the requested value before trying again. | For broader error guidance, see [General error messages](doc:general-error-messages) and [Common issues and solutions](doc:common-issues-and-solutions). ## What to do next After reading or interacting with an article, choose the next destination that matches your work. **Steps** 1. Choose the next action: | If you need to… | Go to | | --- | --- | | Read another article | [Discover articles](doc:discover-articles) | | Review the author's other work | [View a profile](doc:view-a-profile) | | Review articles you favorited | [View favorited articles](doc:view-favorited-articles) | | Edit the article you authored | [Edit an article](doc:edit-an-article) | | Change your account settings | [Update your settings](doc:update-your-settings) | | Learn how following works | [Follow an author](doc:follow-an-author) | **Result:** You have a destination for the next article, profile, favorites, editing, settings, or following task.