Understanding comments in Halo
Comments in Halo support:- Comments on posts: Readers can comment on blog posts
- Comments on pages: Readers can comment on standalone pages (if enabled)
- Threaded replies: Conversations can branch into reply threads
- Comment moderation: Approve or hide comments before they appear publicly
- Anonymous and authenticated comments: Support for both guest commenters and logged-in users
Each post and page has independent comment settings. You can enable comments globally and then disable them for specific content pieces.
Enabling comments
For individual posts or pages
Global comment settings
To configure default comment behavior for your entire site:Configure options
Adjust global settings such as:
- Default comment status for new posts
- Comment moderation requirements
- Anonymous comment permissions
- Email notification preferences
Viewing comments
To access and review all comments on your site:View comment list
The comments page displays all comments across your site, showing:
- Commenter name and avatar
- Comment content (preview)
- Associated post or page
- Comment status (approved, pending, hidden)
- Timestamp and reply count
The comment list shows badges indicating unread replies. Click on a comment to mark replies as read.
Moderating comments
Approving comments
If you require comment approval before publication:Hiding comments
To hide inappropriate or spam comments without deleting them:Deleting comments
To permanently remove a comment:Managing replies
Replies are responses to comments that create threaded conversations.Viewing replies
Replying to comments
To respond to a comment as an administrator:Moderating replies
Replies can be moderated independently from their parent comments:Understanding comment statuses
Comments in Halo can have several statuses:- Approved: The comment is visible to all site visitors
- Hidden: The comment is hidden from public view but remains in the system
- Pending: The comment is awaiting moderator approval before appearing publicly
- Priority/Pinned: The comment is marked to appear prominently (higher priority number appears first)
Comment notifications
Halo can send notifications when comments are posted:For comment authors
When someone replies to their comment, the original commenter can receive an email notification if they opted in during commenting.For administrators
You can receive notifications for:- New comments awaiting approval
- New replies to comments you’re watching
- Comments on specific posts or pages
Comment notifications require proper email configuration in your Halo installation. Check with your system administrator if notifications aren’t working.
Pinning and prioritizing comments
To highlight important comments:Comment owner information
Comments can be posted by:- Registered users: Authenticated users with Halo accounts. Their username and avatar are automatically linked.
- Email commenters: Anonymous visitors who provide a name and email address. Their comments are marked with a “Email” kind indicator.
- Display Name: The name shown publicly
- Email: The commenter’s email address (stored but not displayed publicly)
- Website: Optional website URL
- Avatar: Profile picture (Gravatar for email commenters)
- IP Address: Stored for moderation purposes
- User Agent: Browser and device information
Best practices for comment moderation
- Respond promptly: Engage with commenters to foster community and discussion
- Set clear guidelines: Establish and publish comment guidelines for your site
- Use moderation consistently: Apply the same standards to all comments
- Watch for spam: Regularly review and remove spam comments
- Enable approval for new commenters: Require first-time commenters to be approved
- Monitor regularly: Check your comment queue daily to maintain active discussions