Tags | SMEs | Experts |

Subject matter experts (SMEs) are users recognized for having exceptional knowledge in particular topics. Their answers and Articles will show their designation as an SME, giving other users additional confidence in the quality and accuracy of the information.

When an SME answers a question, Stack Overflow for Teams adds "Answer from a subject matter expert" above their answer.

When an SME writes an article, Stack Overflow for Teams adds "Article authored by a subject matter expert in [tag]" to the top of the article.

To view all subject matter experts, click Users in your site's left-hand menu. Click subject matter experts at the top of the page. The Subject matter experts (SMEs) page will appear.

You can sort the list of SMEs by date by clicking on the Date assigned header. You can also click on any user name to go directly to their profile page.

The Stack Overflow for Teams Tags page holds information on SMEs as well as tags. To access the Tags page, click Tags in the left-hand menu.

The Tags page shows how many SMEs each tag has (if any). To see the SMEs for a given tag, click its SMEs link. The tag's subject matter experts page appears, showing the SMEs and how many questions they've answered in the last month. Click any SME name to see their profile and activity pages.

Clicking any tag takes you to the Tag page, which shows the number of SMEs for that tag along with their profile pictures. To see info on all the tag's SMEs, click Show all.

If your contributions distinguish you as having exceptional knowledge about a given topic, you may be designated as an SME. You'll know you've been granted SME status for a tag when you see an alert on your Stack Overflow for Teams Home page, Questions page, or Articles page. You'll also receive a confirmation to your For You inbox and email (if enabled).

Your profile page also highlights tags for which you are an SME. To see your profile page, click on your avatar (profile picture) at the top of the page.

Your Stack Overflow for Teams home page also has useful info pertaining to your SME status. In the Tags box, you'll see a message under the topmost tag if you're nearing SME status on that tag. You'll also see "You're an SME for this tag" under tags you're already an SME for.

There are two ways you can become an SME:

For more information about your SME tag status, use the Tags box on your home page. Click the gear button, then SME tags. Your SME tag preferences will appear, listing tags for which you are an SME.

For tags that you were auto-assigned SME status (Stack Overflow for Teams Business and Enterprise only), you can decline SME status by clicking Subject matter expert for the tag then selecting None. The tag will remain in the list, but you will no longer be an SME for it. You can restore your SME status for the tag with the same process.

For tags an admin or moderator granted you SME status for, you cannot decline SME status. Instead, reach out to the admin or moderator and request that they remove your SME status.

If you've gained enough reputation to automatically earn SME status for a tag, you may need to remain active in that tag to maintain your SME status. Your site admin can define a period of inactivity (for example: three months) after which users will lose their auto-assigned SME status for a given tag.

If you lose your SME status due to inactivity, the site will alert you on your Home page.

To restore your SME status, gain additional reputation by writing answers or Articles that earn upvotes for that tag.

Teams Enterprise users can use the Stack Overflow for Teams API /tags endpoint to retrieve a list of SMEs. For more information on the API, check out our API v3 for Teams Enterprise article.

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