To many beginning users, the difference between Intro text and Readmore text can be confusing. By looking at the text editor interface, you can see how to master this parameter.

Each article stores two different types of text: Intro text and Readmore text. For an article with only Intro text, the entire article will be displayed on the Frontpage. In contrast, an article with both Intro text and Readmore text only displays the Intro text on the Frontpage.

You may now be confused and ask, "If there is other text, where do I enter it? The Article Editor shows only a single text area."
Intro text is actually created within the same body using the Read More insert button at the bottom of the text area as you can see here:

Normally if you click Add New Article and begin typing, you will actually be entering all of your content as Intro text. When the article you create is displayed by the Joomla content system, clicking on the Read More link will display nothing more than this text.

By clicking the Readmore insert button, what appears as a horizontal rule will be displayed in the text area. Text added above the line will be stored as Intro text and content below the line becomes Readmore text.

Often you will want to simply duplicate the first paragraph of your Readmore text to become your Intro text. In that case, you don't want the Intro text displayed after the user clicks the Readmore button (or the text will be duplicated). If you expand the Advanced Parameters frame in the Article Editor, you will see an option labeled Intro Text with options to Hide or Show. Selecting Hide will hide the Intro Text when the full article is displayed.

You should now be able to separate Intro text and Readmore text within an article.