A method for displaying a historical chat record, comprising: determining (101, 202, 203, 204, 302, 303, 306) a to-be-displayed chat record; obtaining (102, 206, 207, 305) display manner control information, wherein the display manner control information is generated based on attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record; and displaying (103, 208, 209, 307, 308) the to-be-displayed chat record in a display manner specified by the display manner control information, characterized in that the obtaining (102, 206, 207, 305) display manner control information comprises: obtaining the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record; and generating the display manner control information according to the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record, wherein the generating the display manner control information according to the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record comprises: when the to-be-displayed chat record comprises a first content unit and a second content unit, setting a display time interval between a display start moment of the first content unit and a display start moment of the second content unit; and generating the display manner control information that comprises the display time interval; and the displaying the to-be-displayed chat record in a display manner specified by the display manner control information comprises: successively displaying the first content unit and the second content unit according to the display time interval. determining (101, 202, 203, 204, 302, 303, 306) a to-be-displayed chat record; obtaining (102, 206, 207, 305) display manner control information, wherein the display manner control information is generated based on attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record; and displaying (103, 208, 209, 307, 308) the to-be-displayed chat record in a display manner specified by the display manner control information, characterized in that the obtaining (102, 206, 207, 305) display manner control information comprises: obtaining the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record; and generating the display manner control information according to the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record, obtaining the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record; and generating the display manner control information according to the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record, wherein the generating the display manner control information according to the attribute information of the to-be-displayed chat record comprises: when the to-be-displayed chat record comprises a first content unit and a second content unit, setting a display time interval between a display start moment of the first content unit and a display start moment of the second content unit; and generating the display manner control information that comprises the display time interval; and when the to-be-displayed chat record comprises a first content unit and a second content unit, setting a display time interval between a display start moment of the first content unit and a display start moment of the second content unit; and generating the display manner control information that comprises the display time interval; and the displaying the to-be-displayed chat record in a display manner specified by the display manner control information comprises: successively displaying the first content unit and the second content unit according to the display time interval.