# Rooms & Chat

> Find rooms, send messages, and manage notifications

Find rooms, send messages, and manage notifications


## Rooms, spaces, and direct messages

On Plauder.Party you mainly work with three conversation types:

| Type | Description |
| --- | --- |
| **Public rooms** | Anyone with a link or alias can join (unless locked) |
| **Private rooms** | Join by invitation only |
| **Direct messages (DMs)** | 1:1 or small group chats between Matrix IDs |

**Spaces** (when used) group related rooms - e.g. a project with `#announcements`, `#support`, and `#random`.

## Joining a room

**Via invite link:** Click a `matrix.to` link or room URL from the community. Cinny opens the room and offers **Join**.

**Via search:** Enter the room alias, e.g.:

```text
#projectname:plauder.party
```

**Via invitation:** Moderators can invite you by Matrix ID - you get a notification in the client.

## Sending messages

- **Text:** Type in the input field and press Enter (Shift+Enter for a newline, depending on the client).
- **Mentions:** `@user` notifies someone; `#room:plauder.party` links a room (syntax may vary by client).
- **Files & images:** Upload via the attachment icon - follow room rules on size and content.
- **Reactions:** Many clients support emoji reactions on messages.

## Formatting

Matrix supports **Markdown-like** formatting in most clients:

```text
*bold* or **bold**
_italic_
`code`
> quote
```

## Notifications

Under **room settings** (often a gear icon) you can set per room:

- **All messages** - notify on every new message
- **Mentions** - only when `@name` or a keyword matches
- **Mute** - no push notifications

Global settings live under **Settings → Notifications** in Cinny or your client.

## Moderation & rules

Many rooms have their own rules (pinned message, topic, or welcome text). Moderators can:

- Remove messages
- Mute or remove users
- Set the room to invite-only

For issues, contact that room’s moderation or the platform operators.

## Leaving or archiving a room

- **Leave:** Room info → **Leave room**. For public rooms you can rejoin later.
- **Hide / archive:** In Cinny you can hide inactive rooms from the main list without leaving.

## Next step

For voice and video, see [Voice & Video](voice-and-video.html).