***

id: ef18c80d-4bdd-42db-9611-41223f6b4ef3
title: Chat Client
sidebar-title: Client
slug: /node/reference/chat/client
description: Chat Client reference for chat messaging.
position: 1
max-toc-depth: 3
----------------

[events]: /docs/server-sdk/v3/node/reference/chat/client/events

The Chat Client enables real-time messaging between users. It connects to SignalWire and allows you to subscribe to channels, publish messages, and track channel members.

```javascript
import { Chat } from "@signalwire/realtime-api";

const chatClient = new Chat.Client({
  project: "<project-id>",
  token: "<api-token>",
});
```

After instantiating, call `subscribe()` to join channels, then use `publish()` to send messages and listen for the `message` event to receive them. See [Events][events] for all available events.

## Constructor

▸ **new Chat.Client**(`opts`): `Chat.Client`

Creates a new Chat Client instance.

#### Parameters

| Name                       | Type      | Description                                            |
| :------------------------- | :-------- | :----------------------------------------------------- |
| `opts.project`             | `string`  | **Required.** SignalWire project ID.                   |
| `opts.token`               | `string`  | **Required.** SignalWire API token.                    |
| `opts.debug.logWsTraffic?` | `boolean` | Log WebSocket traffic for debugging. Default: `false`. |

## Examples

### Subscribing to channels

```javascript
await chatClient.subscribe(["general", "support"]);

chatClient.on("message", (message) => {
  console.log(`${message.channel}: ${message.content}`);
});
```

### Publishing messages

```javascript
await chatClient.publish({
  channel: "general",
  content: "Hello, world!",
});
```