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Enhance your iOS chat app with threaded messaging by integrating CometChat’s UIKit for iOS, allowing users to reply to specific messages within a focused thread view.

Overview

Threaded messages allow users to reply to specific messages within a conversation, creating a sub-conversation for improved clarity and context. With CometChat’s UIKit for iOS, you can:
  • Display a dedicated thread view
  • View and send replies to a selected message
  • Maintain context between the main conversation and the thread

Prerequisites

Before implementing this feature, ensure you have:
  1. Completed Getting Started setup
  2. CometChat UIKit v5+ installed
  3. User logged in with CometChatUIKit.login()

Components

Integration Steps

Step 1: Show the “Reply in Thread” Option

Navigate to the thread when a message’s thread icon is tapped:
This captures user intent and opens a focused thread screen. File reference: ThreadedMessagesVC.swift

Step 2: Navigate to the Thread Screen

Show a dedicated UI for thread replies. In ThreadedMessagesVC.swift:
Header configuration:
Message list configuration:
This provides a focused UI for thread interactions.

Step 3: Send a Threaded Message

Ensure new replies are attached to the correct parent message:
Set the conversation context:

Step 4: Fetch and Display Thread Replies

Only messages that are part of the thread are displayed. This is handled internally by:
This ensures CometChatMessageList fetches replies using the parentMessageId.

Customization Options

Header Styling

Customize CometChatThreadedMessageHeader appearance:

Composer

Modify placeholder text, input styles, and icons:
Add a custom back button for navigation:

Edge Cases

Error Handling

Feature Matrix

Sample App

Explore a complete sample application demonstrating threaded messaging

UIKit Source

Browse the CometChat UIKit for iOS source code

Thread Subscription

Let users subscribe to or unsubscribe from a thread’s replies

Threaded Messages Header

Customize the thread header component

Message List

Display and customize chat messages

Core Features

Overview of messaging features