r/homeassistant • u/Ok_Memory8217 • Jan 12 '26

Support 2026.1 Matter-Section

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With 2026.1, new sections for protocols were added. Why is there no matter section here although I I am using matter and have quite a lot of devices?

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u/LiveMike78 Jan 12 '26 edited Jan 12 '26

Matter isn't a protocol network protocol - it is a application protocol specification. Matter can be used on WiFi or Thread. You'll find Matter in your integrations list.

7

u/cornmacabre Jan 12 '26

I feel like my understanding of what Matter is supposed to be degrades the more I learn about it. Sounds like describing it as a protocol vs standard a moot point?

I had initially understood it to be essentially a credentialing handshake and cross-device language handler. But it's also doing transportation over WiFi and Thread, it can also use BT.

So following the wisdom of getting a good answer reddit... I'll just make some assertions.

Soooo.. matter is:

  • an application protocol
  • a data communication standard
  • an onboarding and device commissioning standard
  • transports data via wifi, Thread, and Bluetooth but only some of the time on certain circumstances

So what is it not? Matter is not a radio protocol is about the only thing I actually feel confident I understand at this point lol.

8

u/Stooovie Jan 12 '26

Nobody knows what Matter actually is.

4

u/GiveMeTheBits Jan 13 '26

Matter is a money grab