# XP & Levels

XP (experience points) reward taking part. The more you contribute, the more you earn, and the higher your level climbs. Your level shows as a badge on your profile.

## How you earn XP

| Action | XP |
|--------|----|
| Start a thread | 5 |
| Post a reply | 2 |
| Get an upvote on your post | 1 |
| Have your reply marked the best answer | 10 |

XP only goes up — it isn't spent or taken away. (It's separate from credits, which you can earn and spend, and from trust levels, which unlock abilities automatically.)

## Levels

As your XP grows you move up a level ladder. Each level has a minimum XP and a name. Your current level shows as a chip on your profile next to your role.

## Leaderboard

Communities can show a leaderboard of top members by XP, so the most active contributors get recognized.

## For community admins

XP & levels are available on Pro and up. Turn the feature on, then configure the ladder in your admin area under **Community → XP & levels**: set your own level names and XP thresholds, or keep the built-in nine-level ladder. The same page shows your member leaderboard. When the feature is off, no XP is tracked and no level chips appear.