Key Benefit: Maintain accurate unread counts and provide clear user feedback by intelligently marking messages as read when users interact with them, ensuring precise conversation state management.
Feature Overview
Message Read Status enables precise tracking of individual message reading states, allowing you to mark messages as read when users view them and maintain accurate unread counts across your chat application. This feature provides the foundation for reliable conversation state management and user engagement tracking.Individual Message Tracking
Granular read state management
- Mark specific messages as read
- Real-time status updates
Unread Count Accuracy
Precise count management
- Immediate count updates
- Consistent state synchronization
Implementation Guide
Mark messages as read when users view themImplement fundamental read tracking to update message status and maintain accurate unread counts as users interact with conversations.
Core Read Operations
Operation | Purpose | When to Use |
---|---|---|
markRead() | Mark a specific message as read | User views message content |
Automatic Detection | Mark messages read on view | Message appears in viewport |
Latest Message Read | Mark newest message read | Chat screen opens |
Code Examples
Timing Considerations: Mark messages as read when they become visible to users, not just when they’re loaded. This provides more accurate engagement tracking and better user experience.
Read Tracking Strategies
Visibility-Based Reading
Visibility-Based Reading
Automatically mark messages as read when users see themImplement intelligent visibility detection to mark messages as read when they appear in the user’s viewport:
- Intersection Observer: Use modern web APIs for efficient viewport tracking
- Threshold Detection: Mark messages read when 70%+ visible for 2+ seconds
- Scroll State Awareness: Process reads only when scrolling stops
- Performance Optimization: Throttle read operations to prevent API spam
Interaction-Based Reading
Interaction-Based Reading
Mark messages as read based on user interactionsTrigger read status based on deliberate user actions for more intentional tracking:
- Tap/Click Events: Mark read immediately on message interaction
- Focus Events: Mark read when message receives keyboard focus
- Context Menu: Provide manual “mark as read” options
- Gesture Recognition: Use swipe or long-press gestures for read control
Time-Based Reading
Time-Based Reading
Use viewing duration to determine read statusImplement sophisticated timing logic to mark messages read after sufficient viewing time:
- Dwell Time: Require minimum viewing duration (2-3 seconds)
- Progressive Reading: Longer messages require longer viewing time
- User Preferences: Allow users to customize read timing
- Context Awareness: Adjust timing based on message type and importance
Bulk Operations
Bulk Operations
Efficiently manage read status for multiple messagesProvide bulk read operations for better user experience and performance:
- Mark All Read: Allow users to mark entire channels as read
- Selective Reading: Enable multi-select for targeted read operations
- Smart Batching: Group read operations to reduce API calls
- Progress Feedback: Show progress for long-running bulk operations
Best Practices
User Experience Design
User Experience Design
Create intuitive read tracking experiences
- Mark messages as read when they become meaningfully visible to users
- Provide immediate visual feedback when messages are marked as read
- Allow users to control automatic read behavior through preferences
- Use consistent read indicators across your entire application
Performance Optimization
Performance Optimization
Optimize read tracking for scale and responsiveness
- Throttle read operations to prevent excessive API calls during scrolling
- Use efficient intersection observers instead of scroll event listeners
- Batch multiple read operations when possible to reduce network overhead
- Implement proper cleanup to prevent memory leaks in long-running sessions
Analytics and Insights
Analytics and Insights
Leverage read data for valuable insights
- Track reading patterns to understand user engagement
- Monitor read rates to identify popular content and communication effectiveness
- Use read timing data to optimize message display and notification strategies
- Provide read analytics to help users understand their communication patterns
Related Features
Channel Unread Count
Unread Tracking
Monitor channel-level unread counts with real-time updates
Message Receipt Sync
Receipt Sync
Enable real-time infrastructure for read status tracking
Message Delivery Status
Delivery Tracking
Track message delivery and user interaction analytics
Implementation Strategy: Start with basic manual read tracking (mark on tap), then add visibility-based automatic detection. Focus on user control and clear feedback to build trust in your read tracking system.