The phrase flash mob is a combination of the phrases flash crowd and smart mob.

A flash mob, sometimes also called an inexplicable mob, can be created by anyone. There are really no rules in the creation of a flash mob because as one organizer in New York City known simply as Bill said, "it's hardly even an idea at all: [just] a mob, for no reason. That's it."

Most flash mobs that have been created are more for humorous use than anything else, though some people see them as practice for more important political endeavors. In order to protect the spontaneity of the event, participants aren't told exactly what is going to happen until just before the event is scheduled to take place. This is becoming a more common practice because some recipients of forwarded e-mail instructions have tipped off police before certain events.

Withholding the true plan of action until just moments before the mob springs into action helps keep the police out of the picture. Since flash mobs are intended to be non-violent, the need for police is minimal and many organizers would like to keep them off the scene altogether. Mostly because the only time violence erupts in these situations is when the police attempt to interfere in the short demonstration. If a flash mob is a crime, then its charge would be loosely organized chaos with intent to humor.

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