Matter development model and compatible ecosystems

The Matter stack is developed on the official Matter GitHub repository and is open-sourced.

The Matter stack implementation contains separation between platform-agnostic and platform-dependent functionality. The open-source implementation offers ports for several resource-constrained, embedded SoCs as well as POSIX-based platforms.

Matter strives for reusing technologies from market-proven solutions, such as Apple HomeKit or Google Weave. Wi-Fi and Thread are its main wireless connectivity protocols that offer seamless integration with other IPv6-based networks and are application-layer agnostic. Bluetooth® LE can be used for commissioning of the Matter accessories, and QR codes and NFC tags can be used to initiate the commissioning.

Matter in the nRF Connect SDK

The nRF Connect SDK provides full toolchain for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and is built on top of the Zephyr RTOS. It includes west for managing repositories, toolchain manager for managing toolchain, Kconfig for feature configuration, and Devicetree for board description. Finally, it integrates the OpenThread and Wi-Fi stacks, both of which can work in a multiprotocol scenario with the integrated Bluetooth® LE stack.

Nordic Semiconductor integrates the Matter stack in the nRF Connect SDK using a dedicated Matter fork. The official Matter repository is fetched into the fork and the fork is included in the nRF Connect SDK as a Zephyr module, including files deployed in the Matter documentation tab. The fork is maintained and verified as a part of the nRF Connect SDK release process as an OSS repository.

For more information about Matter architecture and Matter in the nRF Connect SDK, read Matter integration in the nRF Connect SDK.

Supported Matter versions in the nRF Connect SDK

The following table lists Matter versions supported in the nRF Connect SDK, with a brief overview of changes. The table also lists the release date for that Matter specification version, and the version of the nRF Connect SDK that added support for it.

Matter version	Overview of changes	Specification release date	nRF Connect SDK version
1.3.0	Support for the Scenes cluster. Support for command batching. Extended beaconing feature that allows an accessory device to advertise Matter service over Bluetooth LE for a period longer than maximum time of 15 minutes. Added twelve new device types: Device energy management, Microwave oven, Oven, Cooktop, Cook surface, Extractor hood, Laundry dryer Electric vehicle supply equipment, Water valve, Water freeze detector, Water leak detector Rain sensor. Updated network commissioning to provide more information related to the used networking technologies.	April 12, 2024	v2.7.0
1.2.0	Introduced support for the ICD Management cluster. Added the Product Appearance attribute in the Basic Information cluster. Added nine new device types: Refrigerator, Room Air Conditioner, Dishwasher, Laundry Washer, Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, Smoke CO Alarm, Air Quality Sensor, Air Purifier, and Fan.	October 23, 2023	v2.6.0
1.1.0	Improved Intermittently Connected Device (ICD) support: more Persistent subscriptions. Enhancements and bug fixes for Matter Specification, Certification Test Plan, and the Matter SDK.	May 18, 2023	v2.4.0
1.0.0	Initial version of the Matter specification.	October 4, 2022	v2.1.2

Compatibility with commercial ecosystems

One of the key features of the Matter protocol is the interoperability of different ecosystems it provides. Implementing support for Matter enables the Matter multiple fabrics feature and allows different vendor products to co-exist within the same Matter network.

The Matter stack in the nRF Connect SDK will work with any commercial Matter ecosystem as long as these ecosystems are compatible with the official Matter implementation (for example Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, or Amazon Alexa).

For an example of interoperability of some commercial ecosystems, see Testing with commercial Matter ecosystems.