labels:'color==info::icon==fas fa-fw fa-wifi::text==Federated::tooltip==Your communications pass through one of a network of hosts that intercommunicate. |
color==info::icon==fas fa-fw fa-wifi::text==P2P::tooltip==One-on-one voice and video calls are peer-to-peer (option can be disabled). |
color==info::icon==fas fa-fw fa-phone::text==VoIP::tooltip==Voice or video calls are supported.'
description:|
<strong>Element</strong> is the reference client for the <a href="https://matrix.org/docs/guides/introduction">Matrix</a> protocol, an <a href="https://matrix.org/docs/spec">open standard</a> for secure decentralized real-time communication.
Messages and files shared in private rooms (those which require an invite) are by default E2EE as are 1 to 1 voice and video calls.
Group voice and video calls are <a href="https://github.com/vector-im/element-web/issues/12878">not</a> E2EE, and use Jitsi, but this is expected to change with <a href="https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/3401">Native Group VoIP Signalling</a>.
When using <a href="https://github.com/vector-im/element-web">element-web</a>, you must trust the server hosting the Element client. If your <a href="/threat-modeling">threat model</a> requires stronger protection then use a desktop or mobile client instead.
The protocol was independently <a href="https://matrix.org/blog/2016/11/21/matrixs-olm-end-to-end-encryption-security-assessment-released-and-implemented-cross-platform-on-riot-at-last">audited</a> in 2016. The specification for the Matrix protocol can be found in their <a href="https://spec.matrix.org/latest/">documentation</a>. The <a href="https://matrix.org/docs/projects/other/olm">Olm</a> cryptographic ratchet used by Matrix is an implementation of Signal's <a href="https://signal.org/docs/specifications/doubleratchet/">Double Ratchet algorithm</a>.
