Matrix is an open source project that publishes the Matrix open standard for secure, decentralized, real-time communication, maintained by the non-profit Matrix.org Foundation. When you send a message in Matrix, it is replicated over all the servers whose users are participating in a given conversation. Even if your server goes offline, the conversation can continue uninterrupted elsewhere until it returns. This means that every server has total self-sovereignty over its users data - and anyone can choose or run their own server and participate in the wider Matrix network.

Element is a client for creating and interacting with conversations communicated over the Matrix network. With Element, you can choose where your data lives. No phone number is required to sign up or use it, and there are never ads, tracking, or data mining.