matrix-client

What it is and what it does

matrix-client is a Python SDK for the Matrix protocol that lets you build applications that connect to Matrix homeservers. It wraps the Matrix client-server HTTP API in two layers: a low-level API module for raw HTTP calls, and a high-level client module that provides object models like Room and User for easier interaction. You can use it to log in, create rooms, send messages, and manage other chat operations programmatically.

However, the package is no longer actively maintained. The last release was in 2021, and the project maintainers explicitly recommend using matrix-nio instead, which is both more featureful and actively developed. Pull requests may be reviewed but no new features or bug fixes are being actively developed. If you are starting a new project, you should strongly consider matrix-nio; matrix-client is suitable only if you have an existing codebase or specific compatibility requirements.

Use it for:

• Build a bot or automation tool that sends messages to Matrix rooms or responds to events
• Integrate Matrix chat into an existing Python application as a notification or messaging channel
• Write a simple Matrix client application for a specific use case or workflow
• Prototype or experiment with the Matrix protocol in Python before committing to a maintained library

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Python client library for connecting to and interacting with Matrix homeservers via the client-server API, supporting both low-level HTTP calls and high-level room and user operations.

No, not for new projects. The package is abandoned (last release 2021, no active maintenance) and the maintainers explicitly recommend matrix-nio as a superior, actively maintained alternative. Install only if you are maintaining legacy code that already depends on matrix-client or have a specific reason to avoid matrix-nio. For any new development, use matrix-nio instead.

Install

matrix-client on PyPI

pip install matrix-client

uv add matrix-client

poetry add matrix-client

Installing matrix-client

Before you install

Low install friction with only two runtime dependencies (requests and urllib3), but the package is in abandoned maintenance status as of 1845 days since last release. The project maintainers explicitly recommend matrix-nio as a more actively maintained alternative.

License in practice

Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), which allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, though you must include a copy of the license and note any modifications.

Quickstart

pip install matrix-client

from matrix_client.client import MatrixClient

client = MatrixClient("http://localhost:8008")
token = client.login(username="user", password="pass")
room = client.create_room("my_room")
room.send_text("Hello!")

Requires a running Matrix homeserver accessible at the provided URL; the package itself supports Python 2.7 and 3.4+ but is no longer actively maintained.

Verify before relying

• Whether the package works reliably with modern Python versions (3.9+) despite claiming support for 3.4+
• Current state of compatibility with recent Matrix protocol changes or homeserver versions
• Whether pull requests are still being reviewed or merged

Package facts

Evidence: matrix_client-0.4.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: chat, sdk, matrix, matrix.org

Tags

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