definition of "spectator"

[azuremerge22]

When you click into a game that someone is playing, you first see a list of people at the table and then you can click on "go to game" to actually see live game actions.
Now do people see that you are a "spectator" of the game, if you click to see the list of people playing, or only if you go to the live game interface?
I thought it was the latter but has heard from someone that they saw me as a "spectator", while i only clicked on the game once and saw the list of people at the table.

[menettm]

If you go to a live game where you are not a player, you are watching this game as a spectator.
The others players of this game see, like you, the fact that you are a spectator of their game.
Watching a game, with experts or Master players, permits to learn how to play better.

[tbhp]

I think it's considered the same whether you are actually watching the game or just present on the game page.

This is a bit weird because sometimes I just want to check info on the game, like what tournament are those people playing, which I don't think should be counted as "spectating" the game per see.

[Jellby]

Actually, in my experience, if you join a table before it starts, then leave it (or are removed by the table admin), then someone else joins, then the table starts... you may still appear as a spectator.