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docs/main/end-user-guide/collaborate/collaborate-within-channels.mdx

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+---
+title: "Collaborate within channels"
+---
+<PlanAvailability slug="all-commercial" />
+
+Channels are where you connect, collaborate, and communicate with your team about various topics or projects. Use channels to organize conversations across different topics. as you're [sending messages](/end-user-guide/collaborate/send-messages), [replying to messages](/end-user-guide/collaborate/reply-to-messages), and [participating in conversation threads](/end-user-guide/collaborate/organize-conversations#start-or-reply-to-threads).
+
+## You're added to default channels automatically
+
+Everyone who joins a Mattermost [workspace](/end-user-guide/end-user-guide-index) is automatically added to the **Town Square** channel. See our [Channel Types](/end-user-guide/collaborate/channel-types) documentation for details.
+
+<Note>
+
+The Town Square channel can't be [archived](/end-user-guide/collaborate/archive-unarchive-channels#archive-a-channel) or [converted to a private channel](/end-user-guide/collaborate/convert-public-channels), and users can't [leave](/end-user-guide/collaborate/join-leave-channels#leave-a-channel) this default channel. However, [guests](/administration-guide/onboard/guest-accounts) who are manually invited to **Town Square** can leave the channel.
+
+</Note>
+
+## Channel sidebar
+
+In the channel sidebar on the left, you'll find all of the the channels you're a member of as well as useful channel management tools. See the [channel types](/end-user-guide/collaborate/channel-types) to learn about the types of channels available, how they work, and how to identify them in the channel sidebar. Learn how to create channels by visiting the [create channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/create-channels) documentation.
+
+As your channel sidebar fills up with channels you've joined, you can organize your channels into categories based on how you work. See the [customize your channel sidebar](/end-user-guide/preferences/customize-your-channel-sidebar) documentation for details.
+
+## Learn more
+
+Learn more about collaborating within Mattermost channels:
+
+- [Channel naming conventions](/end-user-guide/collaborate/channel-naming-conventions) - Learn why channel names are important.
+- [Communicate a channel's focus and scope](/end-user-guide/collaborate/channel-header-purpose) - Learn how to communicate a channel's scope and focus.
+- [Browse channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/browse-channels) - Browse all available public channels you can join, and all channels you're a member of.
+- [Join and leave channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/join-leave-channels) - Learn how to start or stop being a channel member.
+- [Make calls in Mattermost](/end-user-guide/collaborate/make-calls) - Learn how to start, join, and attend calls in Mattermost, as well as screen share.
+- [Navigate between channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/navigate-between-channels) - Learn how to navigate between channels.
+- [Create channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/create-channels) - Create channels to organize discussion by topic, project, or focus.
+- [Rename a channel](/end-user-guide/collaborate/rename-channels) - Rename channels to make them more discoverable.
+- [Display channel banners](/end-user-guide/collaborate/display-channel-banners) - Display a fixed banner at the top of channels to warn users about the presence of classified or sensitive information.
+- [Auto-translate messages](/end-user-guide/collaborate/autotranslate-messages) - Automatically translate channel messages into your preferred language.
+- [Convert public channels to private channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/convert-public-channels) - Learn how to convert channel access and visibility.
+- [Convert group messages to private channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/convert-group-messages) - Learn how to convert group messages to private channels.
+- [Manage channel members](/end-user-guide/collaborate/manage-channel-members) - Add and remove users from channels.
+- [Mark channels as favorites](/end-user-guide/collaborate/favorite-channels) - Mark commonly visited channels as favorites.
+- [Manage channel bookmarks](/end-user-guide/collaborate/manage-channel-bookmarks) - Manage quick access links or files pinned to the top of channels.
+- [Mark channels as unread](/end-user-guide/collaborate/mark-channels-unread) - Mark channels unread to return to messages later.
+- [Archive and unarchive channels](/end-user-guide/collaborate/archive-unarchive-channels) - Keep the number of available channels manageable.