Messaging Basics
Channels and DMs, composing, replies, mentions, files.

Channels and DMs
Room types 
 
 Public channels: discoverable and joinable by anyone in the workspace; great for cross‑team topics. 
 Private groups: invite‑only rooms for sensitive or focused work. 
 Direct messages (DMs): 1:1 or small ad‑hoc group chats. 
 
 Create or join 
 
 Click + in the sidebar → New Channel or New Group → name it and set privacy. 
 Join public channels from the channel browser; request an invite for private groups. 
 
 Room housekeeping 
 
 Topic & description: set context so newcomers understand the purpose. 
 Archive vs. delete: archive to keep history read‑only; delete only when certain. 
 Member roles: assign moderators for triage and topic curation.

Composing & Formatting
Compose efficiently 
 
 Shift+Enter inserts a new line without sending. 
 Press Up Arrow to edit your last message quickly. 
 Use Ctrl/Cmd + K to navigate without leaving the keyboard. 
 
 Formatting (Markdown) 
 
 Headings: # Title , ## Section 
 Bold/Italic: **bold** , *italic* 
 Code: backticks for inline, triple backticks for blocks 
 Lists: - item or 1. item 
 Links: [text](https://example.com) 
 
 Useful message tools 
 
 Quote: select text → “Reply in thread” or > in composer for blockquote. 
 Emoji/reactions: add signal without noise; great for quick polls. 
 Edit/delete: hover a message to reveal actions (permissions apply).

Files & Pins
Share files 
 
 Drag & drop into the composer or click the paperclip to attach files. 
 Add a caption for context; large files may upload in the background. 
 
 Find files later 
 
 Open the room header → Files to see recent uploads. 
 Use search filters (type:file, by:user, in:room) to narrow results. 
 
 Pins and stars 
 
 Pin key messages/files to the room so everyone sees them. 
 Star messages to bookmark them for yourself (see your Starred).

Mentions & Reactions
Mentions 
 
 @username notifies a person; @all and @here are powerful—use sparingly. 
 Mention a role (if enabled) to notify a group of people. 
 
 Reactions 
 
 Add emoji reactions to acknowledge or vote without new messages. 
 Filter for reacted messages via the room’s search filters. 
 
 Status & availability 
 
 Respect DND and away statuses; use threads instead of broad pings.

Threads & Replies
Why threads 
 
 Keep channels tidy by moving side conversations into threads. 
 Threads reduce notification noise for people not following the topic. 
 
 Start and follow a thread 
 
 Hover a message → Reply in thread. 
 The composer switches to the thread; send your reply. 
 Click “Follow” to receive thread‑only notifications without muting the room. 
 
 Best practices 
 
 Use threads for questions, decisions, and sub‑topics. 
 Summarize outcomes back in the main channel to close the loop.