Thread (network protocol)

Thread is an IPv6-based, low-power mesh networking technology for Internet of things (IoT) products. It is built on the IEEE 802.15.4 radio standard and uses 6LoWPAN to carry IPv6 packets over low-power, low-bandwidth links. Often used as a transport for the home-automation connectivity standard Matter (the combination being known as Matter over Thread), the protocol has seen increased use for connecting low-power and battery-operated smart-home devices.

Because every Thread device is individually IP-addressable, application data can be routed to and from the wider network without an application-layer gateway; this distinguishes Thread from technologies such as Zigbee that share the same radio but are not natively IP-based. Thread defines only the networking layers and specifies no application layer of its own, leaving that role to standards such as Matter or to vendor-specific stacks.

Thread originated at Nest Labs, which began developing it around 2011 as a proprietary networking layer for its own connected-home products before the technology was opened to the wider industry. Since July 2014 the protocol has been developed and maintained by the , a not-for-profit industry alliance formed to develop, maintain and drive adoption of Thread as an industry networking standard for IoT applications. The Thread Group also certifies components and finished products for conformance and interoperability. The Thread specification is published at no cost but its use is governed by an end-user license agreement, and building or shipping Thread products requires Thread Group membership.