---
title: Converse Documentation
description: Official documentation for Converse, a free and open-source XMPP chat client.
template: splash
hero:
  tagline: The web-native XMPP client
  image:
    file: ../../assets/logo.svg
    alt: Converse.js logo
    placement: left
  actions:
    - text: Quickstart
      link: /docs/quickstart/
      icon: right-arrow
    - text: View on GitHub
      link: https://github.com/conversejs/converse.js
      variant: minimal
      icon: github
---

import { Card, CardGrid } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';

## Introduction

Converse brings modern, real-time chat to the web. Built on the open [XMPP](https://xmpp.org/about-xmpp/) protocol,
it works as a standalone client or embeds directly into your website, giving your users a
seamless chat experience that stays under your control.

### Why Converse?

**Your data, your rules.** Unlike SaaS chat solutions that lock you into their platform and
harvest your users' data, Converse runs on your infrastructure. You control the server, the
storage, and the privacy policy. This matters for healthcare, finance, education, and any
organization that takes data sovereignty seriously.

**Ship faster, customize everything.** Converse integrates with your existing auth system,
matches your brand, and adapts to your workflow. Add file sharing, OMEMO encryption, bots,
or custom plugins. Or strip it down to exactly what you need.

**Open standard, zero lock-in.** XMPP is a mature, battle-tested protocol with
interoperability across dozens of clients and servers.

### Get started in minutes

The [Quickstart](/docs/quickstart/) guide will have you running a demo instance in under five minutes.
For production deployments, see [Setup and Integration](/setup/) to connect Converse to your
XMPP server and wire up automatic authentication for your logged-in users.

<CardGrid>
  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket">
    Get Converse up and running quickly. [Read more →](/docs/quickstart/)
  </Card>
  <Card title="Features" icon="list-format">
    Explore all available features including file sharing, OMEMO encryption, and more. [Read more →](/docs/features/)
  </Card>
  <Card title="Configuration" icon="setting">
    All available configuration settings for customizing Converse. [Read more →](/docs/configuration/)
  </Card>
  <Card title="Plugin Development" icon="puzzle">
    Learn how to extend Converse with custom plugins. [Read more →](/docs/development/plugin-development/)
  </Card>
</CardGrid>
