We are a group more than a forum. I delete inactive members regularly. Sometimes they haven't read their emails and want to come back. So I'm thinking that maybe banning them is a better option so they don't have to register again.

What exactly does banning do?

My specific questions are:
1. Does the user still show up in the member list?
2. Is the member still included in the total number of members?
3. Do they completely not appear and have no rights to take part and the the only way to find them is go into their profile and see that they have 'banned' ticked. For unbanning I untick it?

1) No they don't.
2) No they aren't
3) Their profiles are completely lost. You cannot do that untick thing.

I thought you could unban people?

If you can't what is the difference with deleting members (which I have been doing so far)?

You can un ban them by going to their profile in the admin panel.

Deleting them is removing them from the forum. All their post will be made as guest.

As you seem to have misunderstood my question although I thought I made it clear it was about BANNING (not about deleting - I know about that as have used it many times but never banned anyone).

Can you confirm that by banning someone:
1. they don't appear in the member list; and
2. they don't add to the total numbers of members?

And that in fact the only person who knows and can see that they are still there is the admin person? (me in this case).

If you can't what is the difference with deleting members (which I have been doing so far)?

You asked about deleting and I answered.

Yes they will be appearing in the members list and will add to the total of members.

MrMario wrote:

If you can't what is the difference with deleting members (which I have been doing so far)?

You asked about deleting and I answered.

Yes they will be appearing in the members list and will add to the total of members.

I did not ask about deleting.

If you look at the subject of my message and contents of the first message (the question). I have written my message with great care and it was about banning.

Your answer is clear now. If you don't want your members to appear on the members list or add to the total numbers they need to be deleted so I'll continue doing that then.

In my opinion they should be hidden from the members list if they are banned but that is not the case I understand.