Open channel overview
An open channel is a public channel that supports large-scale, real-time messaging — ideal for live streaming, live events, and public chat rooms. Users join and leave open channels dynamically.
Key characteristics
- No membership limit: Open channels can support a very large number of concurrent participants.
- Dynamic participation: Users join and leave freely at any time.
- No persistent membership: When a user leaves or disconnects, they are removed from the channel. Rejoin is required to resume messaging.
- Message history: Message history is available only if the Open Channel Cloud Storage service is enabled.
Channel types comparison
| Feature | Direct channel | Group channel | Open channel | Community channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max members | 2 | Configurable | Unlimited | Configurable (large-scale) |
| Persistent membership | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Message history | Yes | Yes | Requires service | Yes |
| Offline messages | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Common use cases
- Live streaming chat
- Live event commentary
- Public chat rooms
- Interactive broadcasts