Glossary
Thread
A low-power, IPv6-based mesh networking protocol for smart-home devices. Underpins much of Matter; provides reliable connectivity for battery-powered sensors and locks.
Thread is a mesh radio protocol built on 802.15.4 (the same physical layer as Zigbee), but with IPv6 addressing — every Thread device gets a routable IP address.
Properties
- Mesh. Powered devices act as repeaters; battery devices sleep most of the time.
- Self-healing. No single point of failure; if one node dies, traffic reroutes.
- Low power. Battery-powered sensors run 2–10 years on a coin cell.
- No central hub mandatory. Any Thread router (Apple TV 4K, HomePod mini, Nest Hub, eero) joins and extends the network.
Why it matters
For devices that need to respond instantly (smart locks, motion sensors), Thread beats Wi-Fi on reliability and battery life and beats Bluetooth on range. Matter-over-Thread is the right combo for most new smart-home installs.
Where this matters
Categories that use thread
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