> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.matchely.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Chat

> Agree on a time, a court, and a partner without leaving the app.

Conversations live under **Messages**. They handle what always got settled in
the group chat: who brings the balls, what time, which court.

## The two kinds

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Direct" icon="user">
    You and one other person.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Match" icon="table-tennis-paddle-ball">
    Everyone in that match — in doubles, all four in one place.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

The match conversation is created along with the match; you don't have to set
up a group.

## Unread

The badge on the Messages icon counts conversations with new messages. It
clears when you open the conversation — on any device, since read state follows
your account.

## Alerts

A new message triggers a notification on your phone. And if you go more than
half an hour without opening it, the alert also arrives by **email**.

<Note>
  There are no notification preferences inside the app: what reaches you is
  controlled by your device, in its notification settings for Matchely.
</Note>