View source for Matrix (protocol)

{{Short description|Networking protocol for real-time communication and data synchronization}}
{{Other uses|Matrix (disambiguation)}}
{{self-published|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox networking protocol
| title = {{#invoke:Wikidata|getValue|Q22906785|FETCH_WIKIDATA}}
| logo = {{#invoke:Wikidata|getValue|P154|FETCH_WIKIDATA}}
| logo alt = [matrix]
| logo size = 220px
| is stack = no
| purpose = Federated messaging and data synchronization
| developer = The Matrix.org Foundation [[community interest company|CIC]]
| date = {{Start date and age|2014|09}}<ref name="Ermoshina-2016"/>{{Failed verification|date=July 2020|reason=p. 247: 'Matrix.org, released in December 2014'}}
| based on = [[HTTP]], [[WebRTC]]
| influenced =
| osilayer = {{#invoke:Wikidata|getValue|P5805|FETCH_WIKIDATA}}
|ports={{#invoke:Wikidata|getRawValue|P1641|FETCH_WIKIDATA}}}}
'''Matrix''' (sometimes stylized as ['''matrix''']) is an [[open standard]] and [[communication protocol]] for real-time communication.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-27 |title=What Is the Matrix Protocol and How Does It Work? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/what-is-matrix-protocol-how-does-it-work/ |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=MUO |language=en}}</ref> It aims to make real-time communication work seamlessly between different service providers, in the way that standard [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] email currently does for [[Store and forward|store-and-forward]] email service, by allowing users with accounts at one [[communications service provider]] to communicate with users of a different service provider via [[online chat]], [[voice over IP]], and [[videotelephony]]. It therefore serves a similar purpose to protocols like [[XMPP]], but is not based on any existing communication protocol.

From a technical perspective, it is an [[application layer]] [[communication protocol]] for [[Federation (information technology)|federated]] real-time communication. It provides HTTP APIs and [[open source]] [[Reference implementation|reference implementations]] for securely distributing and persisting messages in [[JSON]] format over an open federation of servers.<ref name="lwn"/><ref name="drdobbs"/> It can integrate with standard [[web service]]s via [[WebRTC]], facilitating browser-to-browser applications.

== History ==
The initial project was created inside [[Amdocs]], while building a chat tool called "Amdocs Unified Communications",<ref name="AmdocsUC" /> by Matthew Hodgson and {{Interlanguage link|Amandine Le Pape|fr}}. Amdocs then funded most of the development work from 2014 to October 2017.<ref name="blog 2019-02-20" /> Matrix was the winner of the Innovation award at WebRTC 2014 Conference & Expo,<ref name="award">{{cite news|url=http://blog.uppersideconferences.com/award-winners-webrtc-2014-conference-expo/#.VZBLdbIVhBc|title=Award Winners of the WebRTC 2014 Conference & Expo|date=2014-12-23|work=Upperside Blog|access-date=2015-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315032553/http://blog.uppersideconferences.com/award-winners-webrtc-2014-conference-expo/#.VZBLdbIVhBc|archive-date=2015-03-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> and of the "Best in Show" award at WebRTC World in 2015.<ref name="Edholm 2015" /> The protocol received praise mixed with some cautionary notes after it launched in 2014. Reviewers noted that other attempts at defining an open [[instant messaging]] or multimedia [[signalling protocol]] of this type had difficulties becoming widely adopted—e.g. [[XMPP]] and [[IRCv3]]—and have highlighted the challenges involved, both technological and political.<ref name="Prokop 2015" />  Some were unclear if there was enough demand among users for services which interoperate among providers.<ref name="Scales 2015" /><ref name="citeworld" /> In 2015, a [[subsidiary]] of Amdocs was created, named "Vector Creations Limited", and the Matrix staff was moved there.<ref name="Linkedin" />

In July 2017, the funding by Amdocs was announced to be cut and in the following weeks the core team created their own [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based company, "New Vector Limited",<ref name="companieshouse vector" /> which was mainly built to support the development of Matrix and Riot, which was later renamed to [[Element (software)|Element]].<ref name="vector.im" /> During this time period, there were multiple calls for support to the community and companies that build on Matrix,<ref name="blog 2017-07-07" /> to help pay for the wages of at least part of the core team. [[Patreon]] and [[Liberapay]] crowdfunding accounts were created,<ref name="Patreon" /> and the core team started a [[Video Podcast|video podcast]], called Matrix "Live" to keep the contributors up to speed with ongoing developments.<ref name="Matrix Live 1" /> This was expanded by a weekly [[blog]] format, called "This Week in Matrix", where interested community members could read, or submit their own, Matrix-related news.<ref name="matrix week" /> The company was created with the goal of offering [[IT consultancy|consultancy]] services for Matrix and paid hosting of Matrix servers (as a platform called modular.im, which was later renamed to [[Element (software)|Element matrix services]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Element Secure instant messenger {{!}} Riot.im download {{!}} End-to-end messages encryption and open network|url=https://element.io/previously-riot|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Element}}</ref>) to generate income.<ref name="modular.im" />

In the early weeks after its creation, the Matrix team and the company [[Purism (company)|Purism]] published plans to collaborate in the creation of the [[Librem]] 5 phone.<ref name="Armasu 2018" /> The Librem 5 was intended to be a Matrix native phone, where the default pre-installed messaging and caller app should use Matrix for audio and video calls and instant messaging.<ref name="Purism shop" />

In 2017, [[KDE]] announced it was working on including support for the protocol in its IRC client [[Konversation]].<ref name="Konversation 2017" />

In late January 2018, the company received an investment of US$5 million from Status,'''<ref name="Rogers 2018" /><ref name="Status 2018" />''' an  [[Ethereum]] based [[Startup company|startup]].

In April 2018, the [[Government of France|French Government]] announced plans to create their own instant messaging tool.<ref name="Rosemain 2018" /> Work on the application based on Riot and Matrix protocol—called {{ill|Tchap|fr}} after French scientist [[Claude Chappe]]—had started in early 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.solutions-numeriques.com/securite/letat-lance-un-telegram-a-la-francaise-cet-ete-ouvert-a-tous/|title=L'Etat lance un "Telegram" à la française cet été, ouvert à tous|last=Kaminsky|first=Jean|date=2018-04-22|website=Solutions Numériques|language=fr-FR|access-date=2019-12-28|quote=Après 3 mois de développement pour un coût très limité [...]}}</ref> and the program was open-sourced and released on iOS and Android in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/french-government-releases-in-house-im-app-to-replace-whatsapp-and-telegram-use/|title=French government releases in-house IM app to replace WhatsApp and Telegram use|last=Cimpanu|first=Catalin|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref>

In October 2018, a [[Community Interest Company]] called "The Matrix.org Foundation C.I.C."<ref name="companieshouse foundation" /> was incorporated, to serve as a neutral legal entity for further development of the standard.<ref name="blog 2018-10-29" />

In February 2019, the KDE community announced plans to adopt Matrix for its internal communications needs, as a decentralized alternative to other instant messaging servers like [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]], [[Slack (software)|Slack]], and [[Discord (software)|Discord]], and operate its own server instance.<ref name="Larabel 2019" />

In April 2019, Matrix.org suffered a security breach in which the production servers were compromised.<ref name="Breach Apr 2019" />
This breach was not an issue with the Matrix protocol and did not directly affect home servers other than matrix.org.

In June 2019, the Matrix protocol left beta phase with the version 1.0 across all APIs (and Synapse, at the time the reference home server), and the Matrix foundation was officially launched.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2019/06/11/introducing-matrix-1-0-and-the-matrix-org-foundation|title=Introducing Matrix 1.0 and the Matrix.org Foundation|website=Matrix blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2019/06/11/synapse-1-0-0-released/|title = Synapse 1.0.0 released|website=Matrix blog}}</ref>

In October 2019, New Vector raised an additional US$8.5 million to develop Matrix.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2019 |title=New Vector scores $8.5M to plug more users into its open, decentralized messaging Matrix |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/10/new-vector-scores-8-5m-to-plug-more-users-into-its-open-decentralized-messaging-matrix/ |access-date=2019-12-18 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In December 2019, [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|German Ministry of Defense]] announced a pilot project called BwMessenger for secure instant messaging tool based on Matrix protocol, Synapse server and Riot application. This is modeled after French Tchap project. The long-term goal of the Federal Government is the secure use of messenger services that covers all ministries and subordinate authorities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Open-Source-Bundeswehr-baut-eigene-verschluesselte-Messenger-App-4623404.html|title=Open Source: Bundeswehr baut eigene verschlüsselte Messenger-App|last=online|first=heise|website=[[Heise (company)|heise]] online|date=24 December 2019 |language=de|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref>

In December 2019, [[Mozilla]] announced that it would begin to use Matrix as a replacement for [[IRC]]. In the announcement, they said that they would be completing the move in late January 2020. The Mozilla IRC server, irc.mozilla.org, is said to be removed "no later than March of next year [2020]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discourse.mozilla.org/t/synchronous-messaging-at-mozilla-the-decision/50620|title = Synchronous Messaging at Mozilla: The Decision|date = 19 December 2019}}</ref> In March 2020, the IRC server was turned off and users were directed to join chat.mozilla.org, Mozilla's Element instance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Moznet IRC is dead; long live Mozilla Matrix!|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2020/03/03/moznet-irc-is-dead-long-live-mozilla-matrix|access-date=2020-10-31|website=Matrix blog|language=en}}</ref>

In May 2020, Matrix enabled [[end-to-end encryption]] by default for private conversations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2020/05/06/cross-signing-and-end-to-end-encryption-by-default-is-here|title=Cross-signing and End-to-end Encryption by Default is HERE!!!|website=Matrix blog}}</ref>

In October 2020, [[Element (software)|Element]] acquired [[Gitter]] from [[GitLab]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-30|title=Gitter is joining Element|url=https://element.io/blog/gitter-is-joining-element/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Element Blog}}</ref> This meant that all Gitter users would be transitioned over to Matrix.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcoming Gitter to Matrix!|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2020/09/30/welcoming-gitter-to-matrix|access-date=2020-11-01|website=Matrix blog|language=en}}</ref>

In March 2021, matrix.org announced that there are 28 million global visible accounts.<ref>{{cite web |title=FOSDEM 2021: Building massive virtual communities in Matrix |website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzUfS08lMek&t=265s |access-date=31 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2022, some security issues were found in the implementation of one client-side encryption library.<ref name=security_issue_sep_2022>{{Cite web |url=https://matrix.org/blog/2022/09/28/upgrade-now-to-address-encryption-vulns-in-matrix-sdks-and-clients|title=Upgrade now to address E2EE vulnerabilities in matrix-js-sdk, matrix-ios-sdk and matrix-android-sdk2|language=en-US}}</ref> Due to the interoperable architecture, only the affected client applications needed upgrade and third-party implementations were not affected.<ref name=security_issue_sep_2022/> All critical issues were fixed, with the remaining ones being either non-exploitable in practice, or already prominently warned for in the client.<ref name=security_issue_sep_2022/>

In June 2023, [[Beeper (company)|Beeper]] became the first member of The Matrix Foundation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://matrix.org/blog/2023/06/beeper-joins-the-foundation/}}</ref>

== Protocol ==
[[File:Diagramme Matrix en.svg|thumb|right|Matrix network]]

Matrix targets use cases like [[voice over IP]], [[Internet of Things]] and [[instant messaging]], including group communication, along with a longer-term goal to be a generic messaging and data synchronization system for the web. The protocol supports security and replication, maintaining full conversation history, with no single points of control or failure.  Existing communication services can integrate with the Matrix ecosystem.<ref name="lwn" />

Client software is available for open-federated Instant Messaging (IM), voice over IP (VoIP) and Internet of Things (IoT) communication.

The Matrix standard specifies [[REST]]ful HTTP APIs for securely transmitting and replicating JSON data between Matrix-capable clients, servers and services. Clients send data by [[HTTP PUT|PUT]]ing it to a ‘room’ on their server, which then replicates the data over all the Matrix servers participating in this ‘room’. This data is signed using a git-style signature to mitigate tampering, and the federated traffic is encrypted with HTTPS and signed with each server's private key to avoid spoofing. Replication follows [[eventual consistency]] semantics, allowing servers to function even if offline or after data-loss by re-synchronizing missing history from other participating servers.

The Olm library provides for optional [[end-to-end encryption]] on a room-by-room basis via a [[Double Ratchet Algorithm]] implementation.<ref name="Ermoshina-2016"/> It can ensure that conversation [[data at rest]] is only readable by the room participants. With it configured, data transmitted over Matrix is only visible as [[ciphertext]] to the Matrix servers, and can be decrypted only by authorized participants in the room. The encryption protocol is called Olm; Megolm is an expansion of Olm to better suit the need for bigger rooms. There are two main implementations:
* vodozemac, the current reference implementation, written in [[Rust (programming language)|Rust]]. In 2022, it has been audited by [[Least Authority]], whose findings are publicly available<ref>{{cite web |url=https://leastauthority.com/static/publications/LeastAuthority-Matrix_vodozemac_Final_Audit_Report.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=leastauthority.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516164237/https://leastauthority.com/static/publications/LeastAuthority-Matrix_vodozemac_Final_Audit_Report.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2022 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and have been addressed by the Matrix team.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://matrix.org/blog/2022/05/16/independent-public-audit-of-vodozemac-a-native-rust-reference-implementation-of-matrix-end-to-end-encryption | title=Independent public audit of Vodozemac, a native Rust reference implementation of Matrix end-to-end encryption |website=Matrix blog}}</ref> The review was partially funded by Germany's national agency for the healthcare system digitalisation ({{ill|Gematik|de}}).
* libolm, the former reference implementation, has been subject of a cryptographic review by [[NCC Group]], whose findings are publicly available,<ref name="Balducci Meredith 2016"/> and have been addressed by the Matrix team.<ref name="blog 2016-11-21"/> The review was sponsored by the [[Open Technology Fund]].

== Bridges ==
Matrix supports bridging messages from different chat applications into Matrix rooms. These bridges are programs that run on the server and communicate with the non-Matrix servers. Bridges can either be acting as puppets or relays, where in the former the individual user's account is visibly posting the messages, and in the latter a bot posts the messages for non-puppeteered user accounts.

Currently there are official bridges for:
* [[Gitter]]<ref name="Gitter"/>
* [[Internet Relay Chat|IRC]]<ref name="IRC"/>
* [[Slack (software)|Slack]]/[[Mattermost]]<ref name="Slack"/>
* [[XMPP]]<ref name="XMPP"/>

Bridges for the following notable applications are maintained by the community:

{{Div col}}
* [[iMessage|Apple iMessage]]
* [[Discord]]<ref name="Discord"/>
* [[Email]]
* [[Facebook Messenger]]<ref name="Facebook"/>
* [[Google Hangouts]]
* [[GroupMe]]
* [[Mastodon (software)|Mastodon]]
* [[RSS]]/[[Twitter]] feeds
* [[Signal (software)|Signal]]<ref name="Signal"/>
* [[Skype]]<ref name="Skype"/>
* [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]]<ref name="Telegram"/>
* [[SMS]]
* [[WeChat]]
* [[WhatsApp|Whatsapp]]<ref name="WhatsApp"/>
* [[LinkedIn]]<ref name="LinkedIn"/>
{{Div col end}}

== Clients ==
[[Element (software)|Element]] is the reference implementation of a client. The following client implementations exist; a possibly more complete list can be found on [https://matrix.org/clients Matrix's website]:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Client Implementations
|-
! Project !! Main Language !! Comment
!Platforms
!Status
!Repository
|-
|Cinny
|JavaScript
|Focuses primarily on having a simple and secure interface; written in [[React (software)|React]] on the top of matrix-js-sdk
|Web and desktop
|Stable
|[https://github.com/ajbura/cinny GitHub: ajbura/cinny]
|-
|[[Element (software)|Element]]
|JavaScript
|Made by the matrix.org core team
|Web, desktop, iOS, and Android
|Stable
|[https://github.com/vector-im/element-web GitHub: vector-im/element-web]
|-
|FluffyChat
|Dart
|Written in [[Flutter (software)|Flutter]]
|Web, desktop, iOS, and Android
|Stable
|[https://github.com/krille-chan/fluffychat GitHub: krille-chan/fluffychat]
|-
|[[GNOME Fractal|Fractal]]
|Rust
|
|[[GNOME|GNOME desktop]]
|Stable
|[https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/fractal GitLab: GNOME/fractal]
|-
|NeoChat
|C++
|[[Fork (software development)|Fork]] of Spectral, using KDE frameworks, most notably Kirigami,
KConfig and KI18n
|Desktop, [[Plasma Mobile]], and Android
|Stable
|[https://invent.kde.org/network/neochat Kde: network/neochat]
|-
|Nheko
|C++
|made using [[Qt (software)|Qt]] and [[C++17]]
|Desktop (Linux, macOS, Windows and others<ref>{{Cite web |title=nheko-reborn.github.io |url=https://nheko-reborn.github.io/ |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=nheko-reborn.github.io}}</ref>)
|Stable
|[https://github.com/Nheko-Reborn/nheko GitHub: Nheko-Reborn/nheko]
|-
|Quaternion
|C++
|cross-platform Qt5-based client, a reference desktop application using Quotient
|Desktop (macOS, Windows, Linux and others<ref>{{Cite web |title=GitHub: quotient-im/Quaternion |website=[[GitHub]] |url=https://github.com/quotient-im/Quaternion}}</ref>)
|Stable
|[https://github.com/quotient-im/Quaternion GitHub: quotient-im/Quaternion]
|}

== Servers ==
Synapse is the reference implementation of a Matrix home server, written in [[Python (programming language)|Python]].<ref name="Synapse"/>
A "second generation Matrix home server"<ref name="Dendrite Quote"/> called Dendrite is being developed by the Matrix core team. Dendrite is in [[Beta release|beta]].

The following server implementations exist; a possibly more complete list can be found on Matrix's website:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Server Implementations
|-
! Project !! Main Language !! Comment
!Status
!Repository
|-
|Synapse<ref name="Synapse" />
|Python
|Synapse is a Matrix "homeserver" implementation developed by the matrix.org core team, written in Python 3/Twisted.
|Production ready
|[https://github.com/element-hq/synapse GitHub: element-hq/synapse]
|-
|Dendrite
|Go
|Dendrite is a second-generation Matrix homeserver written in Go. It intends to provide an efficient, reliable and scalable alternative to Synapse.
|Beta
|[https://github.com/matrix-org/dendrite GitHub: matrix-org/dendrite]
|-
| Construct<ref name="Construct" />|| C++
|Construct is a performance-oriented homeserver with minimal dependencies.

It is the first actively federating Matrix server developed independently by the community.
|Beta (since 2020-04-28)<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the server · matrix-construct/construct Wiki|website=[[GitHub]] |url=https://github.com/matrix-construct/construct/wiki/About-the-server|access-date=2021-12-28|language=en|quote=Entered beta-testing stage around 2020-04-28.}}</ref>
|[https://github.com/matrix-construct/construct GitHub: matrix-construct/construct]
|-
| Conduit<ref>{{Cite web|title=Famedly / Conduit|url=https://gitlab.com/famedly/conduit|access-date=2020-11-01|website=GitLab|language=en}}</ref> || Rust
|An efficient Matrix homeserver that aims to be easy to set up and just work.
It is designed to run on low-powered mini computers such as a Raspberry Pi to host for a user's "friends, family, or company."
|Beta (since 2021-09-01)
|[https://gitlab.com/famedly/conduit GitLab: famedly/conduit]
|-
| Mascarene<ref name="Mascarene" /> || Scala
|Mascarene is an open source homeserver implementation of the Matrix protocol.
|Under development
|[https://gitlab.com/mascarene/mascarene GitLab: mascarene/mascarene]
|-
|Ligase
|Go
|Ligase is a Golang-based implementation of Matrix home server, following the Matrix spec as defined at matrix.org.

It has been used in production by an array of financial institutions in various scenarios.{{Primary source inline|date=December 2022}}
|Appears to be dead (no commit since Sep 22, 2021)
|[https://github.com/finogeeks/Ligase GitHub: finogeeks/Ligase]
|-
|Maelstrom
|Rust
|A high-performance Matrix Home-Server written in Rust designed to have a plugable storage engine, scalable, and light on resources.
|Appears to be dead. No commit since 2020
|[https://github.com/maelstrom-rs/maelstrom GitHub: maelstrom-rs/maelstrom]
|}

== Adoption ==
Communication among the public agents of France's central administration happens on a Matrix-based internal network, named {{ill|Tchap|fr}}.
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/document/french-government-launches-house-developed-messaging-service-tchap|title=French government launches in-house developed messaging|website=European Commission}}</ref>
The project is developed by the Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs ({{ill|DINUM|fr}}) with the explicit goals of security and [[digital sovereignty]], both of which were deemed to be impossible through WhatsApp, Telegram and Slack.
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/tchap-messaging-service|title=Open Source Software powering the newly developed internal messaging service of the French government.|website=European Commission|date=18 October 2019 }}</ref>

Germany's national healthcare system's internal communication network uses a Matrix-based
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gematik.de/anwendungen/ti-messenger|title=TI-Messenger &#124; gematik|website=www.gematik.de}}</ref>
system (''Ti-Messenger'') for real-time communication among Germany's healthcare organizations and sharing of sensitive patient data, and is developed by the national agency for the digitalisation of the healthcare system ({{ill|Gematik|de}} GmbH).
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://matrix.org/blog/2021/07/21/germanys-national-healthcare-system-adopts-matrix | title=Germany's national healthcare system adopts Matrix! |website=Matrix blog}}</ref>
Reasons for choosing Matrix included [[federated identity]] management, which allows to reuse the existing identity infrastructure into the new chat system; the decentralized architecture, which allows cross-linking data from disparate sources; and the open protocol, which ensures interoperability and future-proof data exchange and prevents [[vendor lock-in]].
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/german-health-system-adopts-matrix|title=German health professionals will communicate with each other through the open source Matrix protocol|date=6 August 2021 }}</ref>

Employees of the [[Bundeswehr]] (Germany's armed forces) communicate with each other, and share classified documents (German [[Classified information#Table of equivalent classification markings in various countries|VS-NfD]]), on a private Matrix network, with a customized version of the Matrix Element app.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://element.io/case-studies/bundeswehr | title=Bundeswehr &#124; BwMessenger &#124; Matrix &#124; Defence case study }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/matrix-pilot-bwmessenger | title=German armed forces testing open source chat| date=16 January 2020}}</ref>

Luxembourg has developed a Matrix-based chat service for government officials, named Luxchat4Gov, planned to be released in the second quartal of 2023.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/collection/open-source-observatory-osor/news/luxembourg-launches-open-source-chat-officials-and-citizens|title=Luxembourg launches open source chat for officials and citizens|date=16 February 2023 }}</ref>

The [[Swedish Social Insurance Agency]] (''Försäkringskassan'') is using Matrix for internal communications.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://element.io/blog/dsam-och-esam-forordar-matrix-for-saker-och-federerad-kommunikation-inom-sveriges-offentliga-sektor/|title=dSam and eSam endorse Matrix for secure and federated communications in the Swedish public sector|date=December 2022 }}</ref>

[[Rocket.Chat]] is based on Matrix since version 4.7.0.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://matrix.org/blog/2022/05/30/welcoming-rocket-chat-to-matrix| title=Welcoming Rocket.Chat to Matrix!}}</ref>
It is used in private networks of public governmental offices, private companies and NGOs, across the world.
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rocket.chat/customers|title=Organizations which choose Rocket.Chat}}</ref>

The [[FOSDEM]] was held on Matrix in 2021
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.fosdem.org/2021/practical/matrix_troubleshooting/|title=Troubleshooting Matrix at FOSDEM 2021}}</ref>
and 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-14 |title=FOSDEM 2022's communication infrastructure was provided by Element Matrix Services |url=https://element.io/blog/fosdem-2022s-communication-infrastructure-was-provided-by-element-matrix-services/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Element Blog}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.fosdem.org/2022/practical/matrix_troubleshooting/|title=Troubleshooting Matrix at FOSDEM 2022}}</ref>
The hosting was provided by Element Matrix Services, which published the technical details for public review soon after the event for 2021
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2021/02/15/how-we-hosted-fosdem-2021-on-matrix|title=How we hosted FOSDEM 2021 on Matrix}}</ref>
and 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2022/02/07/hosting-fosdem-2022-on-matrix|title=Hosting FOSDEM 2022 on Matrix}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Fediverse]]
* [[XMPP]]
* [[Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP)
* [[Rich Communication Services]]
* [[IRC]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Ermoshina-2016">{{cite conference|last1=Ermoshina |first1=Ksenia |last2=Musiani |first2=Francesca |last3=Halpin |first3=Harry|editor=Bagnoli, Franco|display-editors=etal|pages=244–254 |title=End-to-End Encrypted Messaging Protocols: An Overview|series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science |book-title=Internet Science |publisher=Springer |location=Florence, Italy |conference=INSCI 2016 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-45982-0_22 |isbn=978-3-319-45982-0 |date=September 2016 |volume=9934 }}</ref>

<ref name="lwn">{{cite news | url=https://lwn.net/Articles/632572/ | title=Matrix: a new specification for federated realtime chat | author=Nathan Willis | work=[[LWN.net]] | date=2015-02-11 | access-date=2015-06-28 }}</ref>

<ref name="drdobbs">{{cite news | url=http://www.drdobbs.com/tools/240169004 | author=Adrian Bridgwater | title=Matrix.org Reloads Inside "Illusion of Control" Vortex | work=[[Dr. Dobb's Journal]] | date=2014-09-09 | access-date=2015-07-20 }}</ref>

<ref name="Prokop 2015">{{cite news | url=https://www.nojitter.com/solving-webrtc-interoperability-problem | author=Andrew Prokop | title=Solving the WebRTC Interoperability Problem - Post | work= No Jitter | date=2015-02-23 | access-date=2015-06-28 }}</ref>

<ref name="Scales 2015">{{cite news | url=https://www.telecomtv.com/articles/standards/to-interop-or-not-to-interop-is-matrix-org-the-answer-for-silo-d-comms-services-12444/ | author= Ian Scales| title=To interop or not to interop? Is Matrix.org the answer for silo'd comms services? | work= TelecomTV | date=2015-05-11 | access-date=2015-06-22 }}</ref>

<ref name="citeworld">{{cite news | url=https://www.itworld.com/article/2694500/ | author=Matt Weinberger | title=Matrix wants to smash the walled gardens of messaging | work=ITworld | date=2014-09-16 | access-date=2015-07-20 }}</ref>

<ref name="Konversation 2017">https://blogs.kde.org/2017/09/05/konversation-2x-2018-new-user-interface-matrix-support-mobile-version{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Larabel 2019">{{cite web | title=KDE To Support Matrix Decentralized Instant Messaging | author=Michael Larabel | website=Phoronix | date=2019-02-20 | url=https://phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=KDE-Matrix-Support | access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref>

<ref name="AmdocsUC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.amdocs.com:80/Products/digital-lifestyle-services/Pages/unified-communications.aspx|title=Unified Communications|website=amdocs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003202858/http://www.amdocs.com/Products/digital-lifestyle-services/Pages/unified-communications.aspx|archive-date=2014-10-03|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref>

<ref name="blog 2019-02-20">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/who-is-matrix-org/|title=Who is Matrix.org?|website=matrix.org|date=2019-02-20|access-date=2018-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329152401/https://matrix.org/blog/who-is-matrix-org/|archive-date=2019-03-29|url-status=dead}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Linkedin">{{Cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/vector-creations-ltd.|title=Linkedin entry for Vector Creations Limited|access-date=2018-10-22}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Edholm 2015">{{cite news|url=http://www.webrtcworld.com/topics/from-the-experts/articles/403607-webrtc-world-miami-wrap-up-review.htm|title=WebRTC World Miami Wrap Up and Review|author=Phil Edholm|date=2015-05-18|work=WebRTC|access-date=2015-06-28}}</ref>

<ref name="companieshouse vector">{{cite news | url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10873661 | title=Free company information from Companies House (UK Government) | access-date=2018-07-30 |website=[[Companies House]]}}</ref>

<ref name="vector.im">{{Cite web|url=https://vector.im/|title=New Vector - We believe the future will be open and decentralized|website=New Vector|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="blog 2017-07-07">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2017/07/07/a-call-to-arms-supporting-matrix/|title=A Call to Arms: Supporting Matrix!|website=matrix.org|date=2017-07-07|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Patreon">{{Cite news|url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/hello-world-12867439|title=Hello world! {{!}} Matrix.org on Patreon|work=Patreon|access-date=2018-11-04}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Matrix Live 1">{{Citation|author1=Matrixdotorg|title=Matrix Live - Episode 1: July 14th 2017|date=2017-07-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0n1xz4KRVE|access-date=2018-10-22}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="matrix week">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/category/this-week-in-matrix/|title=This Week in Matrix|website=matrix.org|access-date=2023-07-26}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="modular.im">{{Cite web|url=https://www.modular.im/|title=Awesome hosting for Matrix|website=www.modular.im|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Armasu 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/purism-librem-5-january-2019,37216.html|last=Armasu|first=Lucian|title=Purism's Privacy-Focused Librem 5 Smartphone's On Track For A Jan '19 Release|date=2018-06-06|work=Tom's Hardware|access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref>

<ref name="Purism shop">{{Cite web|url=https://shop.puri.sm/shop/librem-5/|title=Librem 5 – A Security and Privacy Focused Phone|website=shop.puri.sm|access-date=2018-11-04}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Rogers 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/29/status-invests-5-million-in-matrix-to-create-a-blockchain-messaging-superpower/|title=Status invests $5 million in Matrix to create a blockchain messaging superpower|last=Rogers|first=Stewart|date=2018-01-29|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2018-10-20}}</ref>

<ref name="Status 2018">{{Cite news|url=https://blog.status.im/status-invests-5m-in-riot-im-4e3026a8bd50|title=Status Invests $5M In Riot.im|date=2018-01-29|work=Status Blog|access-date=2018-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130071553/https://blog.status.im/status-invests-5m-in-riot-im-4e3026a8bd50|archive-date=2018-01-30|url-status=dead}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

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<!--  <ref name="blog 2018-04-26">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2018/04/26/matrix-and-riot-confirmed-as-the-basis-for-frances-secure-instant-messenger-app/|title=Matrix and Riot confirmed as the basis for France's Secure Instant Messenger app|website=matrix.org|date=2018-04-26|access-date=2018-11-04}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>-->

<ref name="companieshouse foundation">{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/11648710|title=THE MATRIX.ORG FOUNDATION – Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=[[Companies House]]|access-date=2018-11-04}}</ref>

<ref name="blog 2018-10-29">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2018/10/29/introducing-the-matrix-org-foundation-part-1-of-2/|title=Introducing the Matrix.org Foundation (Part 1 of 2)|website=matrix.org|date=2018-10-29|access-date=2018-11-04}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Balducci Meredith 2016">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nccgroup.trust/us/our-research/matrix-olm-cryptographic-review/|title=Matrix Olm Cryptographic Review|author=Alex Balducci|author2=Jake Meredith|date=18 November 2016|website=www.nccgroup.trust|access-date=2018-10-20|archive-date=2018-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020095212/https://www.nccgroup.trust/us/our-research/matrix-olm-cryptographic-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="blog 2016-11-21">{{Cite web|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2016/11/21/matrixs-olm-end-to-end-encryption-security-assessment-released-and-implemented-cross-platform-on-riot-at-last/|title=Matrix's 'Olm' End-to-end Encryption security assessment released – and implemented cross-platform on Riot at last!|website=matrix.org|date=2016-11-21|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Telegram">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/tulir/mautrix-telegram|title=tulir/mautrix-telegram|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Discord">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/Half-Shot/matrix-appservice-discord|title=Half-Shot/matrix-appservice-discord|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Gitter">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-appservice-gitter|title=matrix-org/matrix-appservice-gitter|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20|date=2018-09-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Slack">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-appservice-slack|title=matrix-org/matrix-appservice-slack|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="IRC">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-appservice-irc|title=matrix-org/matrix-appservice-irc|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="WhatsApp">{{Cite web|url=https://github.com/tulir/mautrix-whatsapp|title=tulir/mautrix-whatsapp|website=GitHub|access-date=2018-10-20}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="XMPP">{{Citation|title=GitHub - matrix-org/matrix-appservice-purple: General purpose bridging using libpurple .|date=2018-12-29|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-appservice-purple|publisher=matrix.org|access-date=2018-12-31}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="LinkedIn">{{Cite web|url=https://gitlab.com/beeper/linkedin|title=beeper/linkedin|website=GitLab|access-date=2022-07-03}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=July 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="Signal">{{Citation|title=A Matrix-Signal puppeting bridge|date=2021-02-06|url=https://github.com/tulir/mautrix-signal|publisher=Tulir Asokan|access-date=2021-02-06}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="Skype">{{Citation|title=skype-bridge|date=2020-05-16|url=https://github.com/matrix-hacks/matrix-puppet-skype|publisher=matrix.org|access-date=2020-05-16}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=May 2020}}</ref>

<!-- Not in use
<ref name="client list">{{cite web|title=Try Matrix Now!|url=https://matrix.org/docs/projects/try-matrix-now.html|website=Matrix.org|access-date=13 August 2017}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=February 2019}}</ref>
Not in use-->

<ref name="Breach Apr 2019">{{cite web|title=We have discovered and addressed a security breach|url=https://matrix.org/blog/2019/04/11/security-incident|website=Matrix.org|access-date=2019-04-12}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|title=tulir/mautrix-facebook|url=https://github.com/tulir/mautrix-facebook|website=GitHub|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Synapse">{{cite web|title=matrix-org/synapse|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/synapse|website=GitHub|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Dendrite Quote">{{cite web|title=matrix-org/dendrite|url=https://github.com/matrix-org/dendrite|website=GitHub|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Construct">{{cite web|title=matrix-construct/construct|url=https://github.com/matrix-construct/construct|website=GitHub|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Mascarene">{{cite web|title=mascarene/mascarene|url=https://gitlab.com/mascarene/mascarene|website=Gitlab|access-date=2020-04-27}}{{self-published-inline|certain=y|date=April 2020}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://matrix.org/docs/spec/ Specification]
* {{GitHub|matrix-org}}

{{Instant messaging}}
{{telecommunications}}
{{Computer-mediated communication}}

[[Category:Application layer protocols]]
[[Category:Communication]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2014]]
[[Category:Protocols related to Internet Relay Chat]]
[[Category:VoIP protocols]]