spectrum2/documentation/about.md

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layout: page
title: Spectrum 2
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![Spectrum 2 animation](/animation.gif)

Spectrum 2 is an open source instant messaging transport. It allows users to chat together even when they are using different IM networks. It acts as a transport layer between the users as showed in the animation above.


## Spectrum 2 frontends and backends

As it was already written above, Spectrum 2 supports multiple IM networks. Spectrum 2 distinguishes between **Frontend** and **Backend** networks.

If some network is supported as **Frontend**, it means that Spectrum 2 allows its users to use this network to communicate with other users using the **backend** network.

#### Example

If you for example use **Slack** as a frontend and **IRC** as a backend, the Spectrum 2 users can add Spectrum 2 to their Slack team, join the IRC network and communicate with their friends on IRC network.

## Supported frontends

Currently, following frontends are supported:

* XMPP
* Slack

## Supported backends

* IRC
* Twitter
* Skype
* XMPP
* Facebook
* MSN
* Yahoo