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Overview

The in-meeting chat feature allows you to send text messages to all participants during a video call. Chat is perfect for sharing links, asking questions without interrupting, or providing additional context during presentations.
Messages are only visible to people currently in the meeting. Chat is not saved after the meeting ends.

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Opening the Chat Panel

You can open the chat panel in two ways:
1

Click the Chat Button

In the control bar at the bottom of the meeting, click the message bubble icon.
2

Or Use Keyboard Shortcut

Press C to toggle the chat panel open or closed.
When opened:
  • On desktop: The chat panel appears as a sidebar on the right side of the screen
  • On mobile: The chat panel slides up as a full-screen overlay

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Sending Messages

1

Open the Chat Panel

Click the chat icon or press C.
2

Type Your Message

Click in the text input field at the bottom of the chat panel and type your message.
3

Send the Message

Click the send button (paper airplane icon) or press Enter to send.
Your message will appear in the chat for all participants with:
  • Your name
  • Timestamp showing when the message was sent
  • Blue background for your own messages
  • Gray background for messages from others
Your own messages appear on the right side with a blue background. Messages from other participants appear on the left with a gray background.

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Chat Panel Features

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Message Display

Your Own Messages:
  • Displayed on the right side
  • Blue background
  • Labeled “You” instead of your display name
  • Shows timestamp
Messages from Others:
  • Displayed on the left side
  • Gray background
  • Shows sender’s display name
  • Shows timestamp
System Messages:
  • Centered in the chat
  • Gray text
  • Used for join/leave notifications or important alerts

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Typing Indicators

When someone is typing a message:
  • A typing indicator appears at the bottom of the chat panel
  • Shows “[Name] is typing…” for one person
  • Shows “2 people are typing…” (or more) for multiple people
  • Automatically disappears after 2 seconds of inactivity or when the message is sent
Typing indicators help you know when someone is composing a response, creating more natural conversation flow.

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Auto-Scroll

The chat automatically scrolls to the latest message when:
  • A new message is received
  • You send a message
You can scroll up to read older messages at any time.

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Unread Message Counter

When the chat panel is closed:
  • A red badge appears on the chat button showing the number of unread messages
  • The counter shows up to 99 (displays “99+” if more)
  • Opening the chat panel clears the counter

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Closing the Chat Panel

You can close the chat panel in several ways:
  • Click the X button in the chat panel header
  • Click the chat button in the control bar again
  • Press C on your keyboard
  • Press Escape on your keyboard (on mobile, tap outside the panel)

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Chat on Mobile Devices

On mobile phones and tablets:
  • Chat panel appears as a full-screen overlay when opened
  • Tap the backdrop or close button to dismiss
  • Virtual keyboard appears automatically when typing
  • The chat button shows unread count in the control bar
  • Messages still show typing indicators and timestamps
On mobile, the chat button is visible directly in the control bar for easy access.

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Chat Behavior

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Who Can See Messages

  • All current participants in the meeting can see chat messages
  • Messages are sent in real-time to everyone
  • There are no private or direct messages - all messages are visible to all participants

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Message Persistence

Messages are only visible during the active meeting session. When you leave the meeting or the meeting ends, chat history is lost. Make sure to save important information shared in chat before leaving.
  • Messages are not saved after the meeting ends
  • If you refresh the page or rejoin, you won’t see previous messages
  • Chat is temporary and in-memory only

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When Someone Joins Mid-Meeting

  • New participants cannot see messages sent before they joined
  • They will only see messages sent after they enter the meeting
  • System messages may notify everyone when someone joins

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Keyboard Shortcuts

  • C - Open or close the chat panel
  • Enter - Send message (when typing in chat)
  • Escape - Close the chat panel (if open)
Keyboard shortcuts like M, V, and H won’t work while you’re typing in the chat input field. Press Escape or click outside the input to re-enable them.

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Use Cases

Share Links & Resources

Easily share URLs, documents, or references without interrupting the speaker.

Ask Questions Silently

Pose questions or comments without unmuting or talking over someone.

Meeting Notes & Action Items

Participants can share quick notes, decisions, or action items for everyone to see.

Technical Issues

Quickly alert others if you’re experiencing audio/video problems.

Collaboration & Brainstorming

Share ideas, feedback, or suggestions during collaborative sessions.

Side Discussions

Have brief side conversations without disrupting the main meeting flow.

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Chat Etiquette & Best Practices

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Do’s

✅ Keep messages concise and clear - Long paragraphs are hard to read in chat
✅ Use chat for non-urgent questions - Let the speaker finish before expecting a response
✅ Share helpful links and resources - Chat is perfect for URLs and references
✅ Be respectful and professional - Treat chat like any professional communication
✅ Save important info before leaving - Copy critical information since chat isn’t saved

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Don’ts

❌ Don’t spam or flood the chat - Give others space to contribute
❌ Don’t share sensitive information - Remember everyone can see all messages
❌ Don’t rely on chat for urgent matters - Speak up if something is time-sensitive
❌ Don’t use chat to talk over the speaker - Wait for appropriate moments to engage

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Accessibility

  • Chat input field has proper aria labels for screen readers
  • Keyboard navigation is fully supported
  • Messages are properly announced by screen readers as they arrive
  • High contrast between text and backgrounds for readability

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Troubleshooting

  • Try clicking the chat button again or pressing C
  • Refresh the page and rejoin the meeting
  • Check that you’re connected to the meeting (green connection indicator)
  • Ensure your message isn’t empty (whitespace only)
  • Check your internet connection
  • Try typing a new message
  • Refresh the page if the issue persists
  • Scroll down in the chat to see the latest messages
  • Check that the chat panel is fully loaded
  • Refresh the meeting if messages appear stuck
  • Typing indicators appear only for other participants, not yourself
  • Indicators disappear after 2 seconds of typing inactivity
  • This is a minor visual feature and doesn’t affect message sending

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Privacy & Security

  • All chat messages are transmitted over encrypted WebSocket connections
  • Messages are temporarily stored in memory during the meeting
  • Messages are not logged or saved on the server after the meeting ends
  • Only active meeting participants can see messages
  • There is no chat history or archive
Do not share sensitive personal information, passwords, or confidential data in the chat. While messages are encrypted in transit, they are visible to all meeting participants.

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Future Enhancements

Planned features for future releases:
  • File sharing via chat
  • Emoji and reaction support
  • Ability to save chat transcripts
  • Direct/private messaging between participants
  • Chat moderation controls for hosts
Chat works great alongside screen sharing - participants can ask questions or provide feedback without interrupting your presentation.

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