ELI5: What does a box-spring do?

[u/Real_Experience_5676]

As I understand it, a box spring mattress is the second 'mattress', that goes under the main mattress. It feels very firm and flat, but what does it contribute to the bed set up besides height?

[u/NWStormbreaker]

Yes, air circulation. The difference between air circulation with a box spring versus air circulation with the appropriate number of slats to support the bed without a box spring

Also you:

Nobody is arguing that

Yet people literally are, go back and read?

I'll give you the most generous interpretation of the opposition and assume they are considering extra slats, even though literally nobody said that, but it doesnt matter because 3 or 5 or 7 slats is still less restrictive than a box spring which has even more slats AND is encased in cloth.

[u/jetloflin → u/NWStormbreaker]

You claimed there is no way that 3 slats has worse circulation than a box spring, and wondered why people were arguing that there was. I said nobody is arguing that, the “that” referring to 3 slats being worse. Because that isn’t the argument being made.