A public-content search interface has to explain what its results actually mean. A missing result is not proof that a discussion never existed, and an archive-themed product name should not imply deleted-text recovery.
Reddit Archive is an independent web tool for searching Reddit content that is still publicly available. Its interface supports keyword search for posts, opening a post or comment from a URL, and browsing public posts and recent comments by username or subreddit.
Match each input to a specific promise
Keyword search finds public posts. A known URL identifies a particular post or comment. A username or subreddit opens a public listing. These modes should stay visibly distinct: a post search is not a full-text search across every Reddit comment.
Keep the source attached
Returned text, available publication timestamps, fetch time, and original source links help users understand and check a result. Missing text should remain missing instead of being reconstructed or presented as recovered content. Availability depends on what the data service returns at query time.
Explain loaded-result filters
A filter over already loaded records can help narrow a list, but it should not promise a complete account or subreddit history. The interface needs to communicate that scope where the filtering happens.
Make credits understandable
New Reddit Archive accounts receive one free credit that never expires. Paid plans provide additional credits; payment does not unlock deleted text or deeper historical coverage. Empty results, errors, and timeouts do not consume a credit. Current options are described on the pricing page.
Archived does not mean deleted
An archived discussion can remain public while voting and commenting are closed. That is different from deleted or removed text. This distinction belongs close to the search experience, where users can interpret it before making assumptions about a result.
Reddit Archive is not affiliated with Reddit, Inc., does not provide a complete historical archive, and cannot recover deleted or removed text.
The practical design principle is to describe the scope of the data at the moment users rely on it: input, result, filter, and payment.
Top comments (0)