Matter
Matter is an open-source, royalty-free connectivity standard for smart home devices, designed to enable seamless interoperability across different brands and ecosystems. It uses Internet Protocol (IP) as its foundation, allowing devices like lights, locks, thermostats, and sensors to communicate reliably and securely over Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ethernet. Developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), it aims to simplify the smart home experience by ensuring devices work together without proprietary barriers.
Developers should learn Matter when building or integrating smart home products to ensure broad compatibility and reduce fragmentation in the IoT market. It is particularly useful for creating devices that need to work with major platforms like Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, as it provides a unified standard for communication and security. Use cases include developing connected home appliances, security systems, and energy management devices that require reliable, cross-platform functionality.