What is Element?
Element is a client for the Matrix protocol—a federated, end-to-end encrypted communication network. Think of it like email: you can run your own server or use any provider, and they all communicate.
Key Features
- End-to-end encryption (Megolm/Olm)
- Federated—choose your server or self-host
- Bridges to other platforms (IRC, Slack, Discord)
- Voice/video calls
- Spaces (similar to Discord servers)
- Open source
Privacy Setup
- Use a privacy-friendly homeserver or self-host
- Enable cross-signing for key verification
- Verify sessions with contacts
- Back up encryption keys securely