TL;DR
Too Long; Didn't Read
A short summary of the essential point from a longer message or document.
Plain English
Here is the main takeaway if you read nothing else.
In context
A TL;DR lets readers understand the decision impact and required action quickly while preserving the detailed context below.
Example
“TL;DR we will keep the current API and postpone the migration.”
When you'll hear this
- proposals
- status updates
- long messages
Common misunderstanding
A TL;DR should summarize the conclusion faithfully rather than omit material caveats.
Also known as
too long didn't readsummary first
Commonly used by
Related terms
Updated: 2026-08-27
