"Scp" (Secure, Contain, Protect) identifies a vast Fictional Universe and collaborative writing project. At its core, the SCP Foundation is a secret organization dedicated to safeguarding humanity from paranormal threats. It works to contain diverse anomalous entities, locations, and phenomena, each known as an Anomaly or "Scp" item, preventing them from causing harm or widespread panic.
The SCP Foundation operates globally, often beyond the purview of governments and public knowledge. Its primary mission is threefold: Secure anomalous items to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands or causing damage, Contain them to ensure they pose no threat to the world, and Protect humanity from their influence and the chaos they could unleash. This clandestine nature is central to the lore, creating a pervasive sense of mystery and tension.
The anomalies themselves, referred to as "SCP objects," vary immensely in nature and threat. They can range from seemingly harmless everyday objects with unusual properties to immensely powerful and reality-bending entities. Each anomaly is assigned a unique SCP designation (e.g., SCP-173, SCP-049) and an Object Class (e.g., Safe, Euclid, Keter, Thaumiel) indicating the difficulty and security needed for its containment.
A crucial aspect of the SCP universe is its unique documentation style. Each SCP object is detailed in a comprehensive report, written from an in-universe perspective. These reports include an item number, object class, containment procedures, and a detailed description, often with incident logs, addenda, and recovery reports. This clinical, scientific tone, contrasted with the often terrifying or bizarre nature of the anomalies, enhances the project's unsettling atmosphere.
The SCP project is fundamentally a collaborative writing effort, originating from a single post on 4chan's /x/ paranormal board in 2007. It has since grown into a massive online community, primarily hosted on the SCP Wiki website. Thousands of authors from around the world contribute to its ever-expanding canon, creating new SCP objects, tales, and supplementary lore that build upon each other in an interconnected narrative.
Beyond its origins, the SCP universe has achieved significant cultural impact, inspiring video games, short films, and other forms of media. Its themes often explore Horror, Mystery, science fiction, and the existential dread of confronting the unknown. It serves as a modern example of Urban Legend and Speculative Fiction, demonstrating the power of collective storytelling in the digital age.
