# Chat introduction

Anyone can access chatrooms at [[!template id=realm]].

You can create a personal [[account]] to access the chat service directly.

You can access the service indirectly via another Matrix chat service.


## Clients

Recommended chat client is [Riot](https://riot.im/).


## Setup

Use the Home server <https://matrix.virtual-assembly.org/>.
Access to home server filled by clicking on "Custom server".

Create a new account,
providing your personal [[!template id=realm]] email address.

(do **not** provide a phone number)


## Channels

You can join channels each with different topics.

All channels are listed in a public channel list.

You can mention a channel in chat by writing its name starting with a "#".


## Communities

You can join communities each covering a group of channels.
Groups can (in some chat clients) help limit views of channels.

Communities are linked from general channels in the public channel list.

You can mention a community in chat by writing its name starting with "+".