Element is an open-source team communication app from the United Kingdom, built on the open Matrix protocol. Rather than routing every conversation through a single company's servers, Element connects to independent Matrix homeservers, so organizations can run their own server or rely on the public matrix.org homeserver that Element operates on behalf of the nonprofit Matrix.org Foundation. All conversations are end-to-end encrypted, and Element requires verified devices before they can send or receive encrypted messages. The apps are available for web, desktop, iOS, and Android, and existing Slack, Microsoft Teams, or IRC channels can be bridged into Matrix rooms. Element is used by companies, public administrations, and individuals who want a team communication services tool that does not depend on a single vendor's infrastructure.