#thread network layer, low-power, low-latency, low-data-rate, self-healing, wireless mesh networking protocol (similar to [[WiFi]] in the sense it is a network layer protocol); it uses [[6LoWPAN]] which in turn uses the [[IEEE 802.15.4]] wireless protocol. [[Thread]] does not require [[Matter]] to function, however when [[Matter]] is used it can easily glue [[Thread]], [[WiFi]], [[Zigbee]], [[Z-Wave]] and other wireless and wired networks together. [[Thread]] is primarily used in low-data-rate devices which are very sensitive to power draw, like most sensors are, which need to run for years on the same battery. At a minimum, [[Thread]] requires one [[Thread]]-border-router, and based on needs any of the following: - A *[[Thread]]-border-router*, which is a hub used to establish and coordinate a [[Thread]] mesh-network, supporting up to 250 devices; - One or more *[[Thread]]-extenders* which are [[Thread]] devices extending the reach of the [[Thread]] mesh-network [[Thread]]-border-routers should be permanently connected to a power source. ![[Thread-0.png]] ## References [Thread - Website](https://www.threadgroup.org) [OpenThread - Website](https://openthread.io) [Thread - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_(network_protocol))