# Matrix (protocol) |  | Matrix is an open standard and communication protocol for real-time communication. It aims to make real-time communication work seamlessly between different service providers, in the way that standard Simple Mail Transfer Protocol email currently does for store-and-forward email service, by allowing users with accounts at one communications service provider to communicate with users of a different service provider via online chat, voice over IP, and videotelephony. It therefore serves a similar purpose to protocols like XMPP, but is not based on any existing communication protocol. | |-|-| | | wikipedia:: [Matrix (protocol)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrix_(protocol)) | [[XMPP]] [[IRC]] ## Clients - Element ## Bridges