# Differences: Messages, Channels, DMs

**URL:** <https://pyro-nation.com/t/differences-messages-channels-dms/55>\
**Category:** Site Feedback\
**Created:** [April 10, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://pyro-nation.com/t/differences-messages-channels-dms/55 "2024-04-10T03:13:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Evolution2001](https://pyro-nation.com/letter_avatar/evolution2001/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@Evolution2001](https://pyro-nation.com/u/Evolution2001)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://pyro-nation.com/t/differences-messages-channels-dms/55/1 "2024-04-10T03:13:51Z")

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Need to figure out (or just read & learn) what the differences are between Messages, Channels, and DMs.

Based on general understandings…  
…not entirely certain what differentiates Messages from DMs. They both appear to be direct messages.  
**Messages** can be sent to addressed to multiple people or a group(s).  
**DMs** don’t appear to be functioning…? It seems like the DM is invoking the Channels “Chat” functionality.

So then what is **Channels**?  
It seems to be a group chat function. But what would make that different than Category threads? Gonna guess that Channel Chats are live, real-time chats, whereas Category Threads are a typical post/reply/reply cycle. I’ll need someone else online in order to test Channel chats.

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**Author:** ![Eko](https://pyro-nation.com/letter_avatar/eko/32/6_22734026db12803ebb3e059622ac3534.png) [@Eko](https://pyro-nation.com/u/Eko)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://pyro-nation.com/t/differences-messages-channels-dms/55/2 "2024-04-10T13:27:32Z")

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Yes channels are part of the Chat. Each chat room is a channel. Each Chat Channel will currently store chat data for 90 days.

You got the other part correct to.Post/Topics/Replies are perm. They say up unless deleted by a mod or admin.