> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://faction.trade/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Chat

> How to use real-time chat on Faction Trade.

Chat on Faction Trade is powered by WebSockets — messages appear instantly with no page refreshes needed.

## Getting started

Navigate to the **Social** page from the top navigation bar. You will see a channel list on the left and the chat window on the right. Select a channel to start chatting.

## Sending messages

Type your message in the input field at the bottom of the chat window and press **Enter** to send. Messages can be up to 2,000 characters long.

## What you see in chat

Each message displays:

* **Avatar** — the sender's chosen pixel avatar
* **Username** — their trader name
* **Rank badge** — a visual indicator of their current rank tier
* **Rank title** — text label like "Bronze Trader" or "Champion"
* **Timestamp** — when the message was sent
* **Message content** — the actual text

## Chat history

When you join a channel, the most recent messages load automatically. Scroll up and click **Load older messages** to view earlier conversation history.

## Connection status

A status indicator shows whether you are connected to the chat server. If you see a disconnected state, try refreshing the page.

<Note>
  Chat messages are visible to everyone in the channel. Do not share private keys, seed phrases, or other sensitive information in chat.
</Note>