# Conversations

Conversations are where **collaboration** takes place in Missive. They bring together messages from different sources like email, SMS, live chat, and social media into a single workspace where your team can communicate and take action.

## What is a conversation?

A conversation can contain:

* Messages from external contacts (email, SMS, social media)
* Internal comments between teammates
* Drafts being prepared
* Tasks and assignments
* Labels and organization

<figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2F8dqNdDvjuJ5kfpGlgAMd%2FMissiveUI-ConversationList-Examples.png?alt=media&#x26;token=812dec92-f94a-4ec7-a4b7-a11109d62a26" alt=""><figcaption><p>Conversations in your unified inbox</p></figcaption></figure>

In the screenshot above:

1. An email with comments from coworkers
2. A scoped chat about a social media campaign
3. An email with tasks assigned to coworkers
4. A labeled email with tasks assigned to you

## Shared vs private conversations

Conversations can be shared with your team or kept private to you. Emails received on [shared accounts](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/connected-accounts) are automatically shared with the team, while emails on personal accounts stay private until you choose to share them.

### How to tell if a conversation is shared

1. **In the conversation list** shared conversations have a colored border
2. **Inside a conversation** avatars at the top show who has access

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c4846b26266b6541a9c314fb4c81faf2128f9bdc%2Fguides-shared_vs_private_convo.png?alt=media" alt="Colored border showing a shared versus private conversation" width="563"><figcaption><p>The "Grocery List" conversation has no border, it is private</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div data-with-frame="true"><figure><img src="https://3242897856-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F1If7JwIQhfz5wGM9LiIU%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-49f02099c402d2a07232309d12fc7e0a7e03356c%2Fguides-shared_with_avatars.png?alt=media" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>This conversation is shared with everyone whose avatar appears</p></figcaption></figure></div>

### Private conversations

When no avatars appear, the conversation is private. Only you can see it. You can share it at any time by @mentioning someone or using the **Add people** menu.

## Learn more

* [Collaboration](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/collaboration) — Mentions, sharing, read receipts, and watching
* [Internal chat](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/internal-chat) — Comments, chat rooms, and team spaces
* [Drafts](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/drafts) — Collaborative email writing
* [Snoozing](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/snoozing) — Defer conversations until later
* [Merging](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/merging) — Combine related conversations into one
* [Conversations FAQ](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/conversations/faq) — Common questions and answers