Element Messenger

Element is an open-source instant messaging client based on the Matrix protocol. It was originally launched under the name Riot.im in 2016 and re-branded to Element in 2020. The platform is designed to provide secure, end-to-end encrypted communication that is decentralized, allowing users to choose their own servers or host their own.

The development of Element is led by New Vector Ltd., a company founded by the creators of the Matrix protocol itself. Because it is open-source, the codebase is contributed to by developers worldwide, though the primary direction and commercial hosting services are managed by the parent organization based in the United Kingdom. Element is now the flagship implementation for the Matrix ecosystem, serving governments, enterprises, and individual users who prioritize data sovereignty.