Element (software)

{{Short description|Decentralised chat and collaboration software}}

{{Infobox software

| logo = Element textlogo.svg

| name = Element

| other_names = {{Unordered list|Riot (2016–2020)|Vector (2016)}}

| screenshot = Element 1.11.92 screenshot.webp

| caption = Screenshot of Element 1.11.92

| author = Vector Creations Limited

| developer = New Vector Limited{{Cite web |title=Copyright policy |url=https://element.io/copyright |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131123857/https://element.io/copyright |archive-date=31 January 2021 |access-date=18 April 2021 |website=Element}} trading as Element

| released = July 2016 (Beta)

| ver layout = stacked

| latest release version = {{multiple releases

| branch1 = Android

| version1 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q94|P548=Q2804309}}

| date1 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q94|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| branch2 = iOS

| version2 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q48493|P548=Q2804309}}

| date2 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q48493|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| branch3 = Linux

| version3 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q388|P548=Q2804309}}

| date3 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q388|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| branch4 = macOS

| version4 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q14116|P548=Q2804309}}

| date4 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q14116|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| branch5 = Windows

| version5 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q1406|P548=Q2804309}}

| date5 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q1406|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

| branch6 = Web

| version6 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q2804309}}

| date6 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q2804309|P577}}

}}

| latest preview version = {{multiple releases

| branch1 = Web

| version1 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q51930650}}

| date1 = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q47004029|P348|P400=Q6368|P548=Q51930650|P577}}

}}

| programming language = JavaScript, Objective-C, Swift, Java, Kotlin

| platform = Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web platform

| language count = 25

| language footnote = {{Cite web |title=matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk |url=https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/blob/master/README.md |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326004014/https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-react-sdk/blob/master/README.md |archive-date=26 March 2020 |access-date=20 October 2018 |website=GitHub |language=en}}

| language = Basque, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Dutch, English (UK), English (US), Esperanto, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish

| genre = VoIP communications, instant messaging, Videoconferences, social media, and other App Integrations

| license = AGPLv3 only{{Cite web |title=Element Copyright License - AGPL 3.0 |url=https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/blob/develop/LICENSE-AGPL-3.0 |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Github}}
GPLv3 only{{Cite web |title=Element Copyright License - GPL 3.0 |url=https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/blob/develop/LICENSE-GPL-3.0 |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Github}}
Element Commercial License{{Cite web |title=Element Copyright License - Commercial License |url=https://github.com/element-hq/element-web/blob/develop/LICENSE-COMMERCIAL |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Github}}

| website = {{URL|https://element.io}}

}}

Element (formerly Riot and Vector{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=John |title=Decentralized Messaging App Riot Rebrands to Element |url=https://itsfoss.com/riot-to-element/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130140558/https://itsfoss.com/riot-to-element/ |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=26 January 2021 |website=It's FOSS |date=16 July 2020 |language=en-US}}) is a free and open-source software instant messaging client implementing the Matrix protocol.{{Cite web |title=Riot: A Distributed Way of Having IRC and VOIP Client and Home Server |url=https://itsfoss.com/riot-desktop/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225630/https://itsfoss.com/riot-desktop/ |archive-date=4 September 2018 |access-date=4 September 2018 |website=itsfoss.com|date=18 April 2018 }}

Element supports end-to-end encryption,{{cite web | url=https://element.io/features/end-to-end-encryption | title=End-to-end encryption (E2EE) | Collaboration and messaging }} private and public groups, sharing of files between users, voice and video calls, and other collaborative features with help of bots and widgets. It is available as a web application that can be accessed through any modern web browser, as desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and as a mobile app for Android and iOS.{{Cite web |title=Features {{!}} Riot |url=https://about.riot.im/features.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409143620/https://about.riot.im/features.html |archive-date=9 April 2020 |access-date=2 January 2020 |website=about.riot.im}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY}}{{Cite web |last=F-Droid |title=Element (Riot.im) |url=https://f-droid.org/en/packages/im.vector.app/index.html.en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120223107/https://f-droid.org/en/packages/im.vector.app/index.html.en |archive-date=20 November 2020 |access-date=15 November 2020 |website=f-droid.org}} Element changed its license from Apache 2.0 to AGPLv3 and GPLv3 with CLA and with a separate Element Commercial License.{{Cite web |last=Speed |first=Richard |title=Matrix-based Element plots move from Apache 2.0 to AGPLv3 |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/11/06/element_moves_to_agplv3/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Copyright & License |url=https://github.com/element-hq/element-web?tab=readme-ov-file#copyright--license |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Github}}

History

Element was originally known as Vector when it was released from beta{{Cite news |title=Riot wants to be like Slack, but with the flexibility of an underlying open source platform |language=en-US |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/19/riot-wants-to-be-like-slack-but-with-the-flexibility-of-an-underlying-open-source-platform/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201844/https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/19/riot-wants-to-be-like-slack-but-with-the-flexibility-of-an-underlying-open-source-platform/ |archive-date=18 October 2018}} in 2016.{{Cite web |last=Riot.im |date=9 June 2016 |title=Say Hello To Vector! |url=https://medium.com/@RiotChat/say-hello-to-vector-2d33b23a787 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201832/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/say-hello-to-vector-2d33b23a787 |archive-date=18 October 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 |website=Riot.im}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}} The app was renamed to Riot in September of the same year.{{Cite web |last=Riot.im |date=19 September 2016 |title=Let's Riot! |url=https://medium.com/@RiotChat/lets-riot-f5b0aa99dc8e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201748/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/lets-riot-f5b0aa99dc8e |archive-date=18 October 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 |website=Riot.im}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}}

File:Riot.im logo 2019.svg

In 2016 the first implementation of the Matrix end-to-end encryption was implemented and rolled out as a beta to users.{{Cite web |last=Riot.im |date=21 November 2016 |title=Riot releases end-to-end encryption: get ready to chat securely! |url=https://medium.com/@RiotChat/exciting-new-riot-release-get-ready-for-chatting-securely-acc93ecfe0a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201733/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/exciting-new-riot-release-get-ready-for-chatting-securely-acc93ecfe0a |archive-date=18 October 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 |website=Medium}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}} In May 2020, the developers announced enabling end-to-end encryption by default in Riot for new non-public conversations.{{Cite web |last=Hodgson |first=Matthew |date=6 May 2020 |title=Riot Web 1.6, RiotX Android 0.19 & Riot iOS 0.11 — E2E Encryption by Default & Cross-signing is here!! |url=https://blog.riot.im/e2e-encryption-by-default-cross-signing-is-here/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719142204/https://blog.riot.im/e2e-encryption-by-default-cross-signing-is-here/ |archive-date=19 July 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020 |website=The Riot.im Blog}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}}

In April 2019, a new application was released on the Google Play Store in response to cryptographic keys used to sign the Riot Android app being compromised.{{Cite web |title=Riot.im Android security update |date=25 April 2019 |url=https://medium.com/@RiotChat/riot-im-android-security-update-2b3f655ad739 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501225337/https://medium.com/@RiotChat/riot-im-android-security-update-2b3f655ad739 |archive-date=1 May 2019 |access-date=1 May 2019}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}}

In July 2020, Riot was renamed to Element.{{Cite web |last=Le Pape |first=Amandine |date=15 July 2020 |title=Welcome to Element! |url=https://element.io/blog/welcome-to-element/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715080529/https://element.io/blog/welcome-to-element/ |archive-date=15 July 2020 |access-date=15 July 2020}}{{fix|text=primary source|link=WP:PRIMARY|date=July 2020}}

In January 2021, Element was briefly suspended from Google Play Store in response to a report of user-submitted abusive content on Element's default server, matrix.org.{{Cite news |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=30 January 2021 |title=Google Play bans open-source Matrix client Element, citing "abusive content" |work=Ars Technica |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/01/google-play-bans-open-source-matrix-client-element-citing-abusive-content/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131015543/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/01/google-play-bans-open-source-matrix-client-element-citing-abusive-content/ |archive-date=31 January 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Corbin |date=31 January 2021 |title=Google reinstates federated chat app Element on Play Store after wrongful removal |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/01/30/google-pulls-federated-chat-app-element-from-the-play-store/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130230834/https://www.androidpolice.com/2021/01/30/google-pulls-federated-chat-app-element-from-the-play-store/ |archive-date=30 January 2021 |access-date=31 January 2021 |website=Android Police}} Element staff rectified the issue and the app was brought back to the Play Store.

In May 2023, India's government banned 14 messaging apps, including Element. The ban was enacted on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, citing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as the main cause.{{cite web |last1=Sharwood |first1=Simon |title=India bans open source messaging apps on security grounds |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/09/india_messaging_apps_ban/ |website=www.theregister.com |access-date=29 February 2024 |language=en}}

Technology

Element is built with the Matrix React SDK,{{Cite web |title=vector-im/riot-web |url=https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web#riot |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920202352/https://github.com/vector-im/riot-web#riot |archive-date=20 September 2018 |access-date=18 October 2018 |website=GitHub |language=en}} which is a React-based software development kit to ease the development of Matrix clients. Element is reliant on web technologies and uses Electron for bundling the app for Windows, macOS and Linux. The Android and iOS clients are developed and distributed with their respective platform tools.

On Android the app is available both in the Google Play Store{{Cite web |title=Element – Secure Messenger |url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=im.vector.app |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=play.google.com |language=en}} and the free-software only F-Droid{{Cite web |title=F-Droid Site |url=https://f-droid.org/packages/im.vector.app/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903010105/https://f-droid.org/packages/im.vector.app/ |archive-date=3 September 2021 |access-date=3 September 2021}} Archives, with minor modifications. For instance, the F-Droid version does not contain the proprietary Google Cloud Messaging plug-in.{{Cite web |title=FAQ-entry |url=https://matrix.org/faq/#i-installed-element-via-f-droid%2C-why-is-it-draining-my-battery%3F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020121158/https://matrix.org/faq/#i-installed-element-via-f-droid%2C-why-is-it-draining-my-battery%3F |archive-date=20 October 2020 |access-date=22 October 2020}}

Features

Element is able to bridge other communications into the app via Matrix, including IRC, Slack, Telegram, Jitsi Meet and others.{{Cite web |title=Bridges |url=https://matrix.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126014949/https://matrix.org/ |archive-date=26 January 2021 |access-date=26 January 2021 |website=Matrix.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Element, hands on: Secure messaging for tech-savvy organisations Review |url=https://www.zdnet.com/product/element/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124034750/https://www.zdnet.com/product/element/ |archive-date=24 January 2021 |access-date=26 January 2021 |website=ZDNet |language=en}} Also, it integrates voice and video peer-to-peer and group chats via WebRTC.

Element supports end-to-end encryption (E2EE) of both one-to-one and group chats.

Reception

Media compared Element to Slack,{{Cite news |title=Open Source und verschlüsselt: Das steckt hinter dem Slack-Rivalen Riot |language=de |work=t3n News |url=https://t3n.de/news/open-source-slack-rivalen-riot-748095/ |url-status=live |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170040/https://t3n.de/news/open-source-slack-rivalen-riot-748095/ |archive-date=4 November 2018}} WhatsApp and other instant messaging clients.{{Cite news |last=Weisensee |first=Jan |date=7 March 2017 |title=Echtzeitkommunikation ausprobiert: Willkommen in der Matrix |language=de-DE |work=Golem.de |url=https://www.golem.de/news/echtzeitkommunikation-ausprobiert-willkommen-in-der-matrix-1703-126197.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029055418/https://www.golem.de/news/echtzeitkommunikation-ausprobiert-willkommen-in-der-matrix-1703-126197.html |archive-date=29 October 2018}}

In 2017, German computer magazine Golem.de called Element (then Riot) and Matrix server "mature" and "feature-rich", but criticized its key authentication at the time to be not user-friendly for communicatees owning multiple devices. A co-founder of the project, Matthew Hodgson, assured the key verification process was a "placeholder" solution to work on. In 2020, Element added key cross-signing to make the verification process simpler, and enabled end-to-end encryption by default.