# Chat Items

The `RadChat` control works with a collection of `ChatItem` objects. The control provides different Chat Items that you can use, such as the basic `TextMessage` and the `PickerItems` used to display various pickers (item, date, and time picker) and predefined cards (defined through a card picker).

This section covers the specific details of the different Chat Items provided by `RadChat`:

* [Message](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/items/chat-messages)—The basic message unit in RadChat; apart from the text of the message itself, each `TextMessage` instance contains information about the Author of the message as well as any additional data.
* Attachments—The options to attach images, files, and other media to messages in the .NET MAUI Chat.
* [Time Break](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/items/timebreak)—Used to encapsulate messages in a conversation by a certain condition such as read/unread, time intervals, or any other condition. It visualizes as a dividing line across the messages board with a text message attached to it.
* [PickerItem](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/pickers/overview)—A special `ChatItem` type which contains a `RadChatPicker` control used for providing a selection to the end user. Depending on the information that is presented and the choices the user can make, the pickers can be one of the following types:
  * `DatePicker`—Displays a Calendar to choose a date.
  * `TimePicker`—Displays a clock view to choose a time.
  * `ItemPicker`—Displays a list of suggestions the end user could choose from.
  * `CardPicker`—Displays a list of cards with structured layout.

> Additionally, you can create your own Chat Items with custom item templates and add them to the `Items` collection of the control. For more details, see the [MVVM Support](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/mvvm-support) and [`ItemTemplateSelector`](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/templates/item-template-selector) topics.

## See Also

* [Messages](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/items/chat-messages)
* [Time Break](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/items/timebreak)
* [PickerItem](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/pickers/overview)
* [MVVM Support](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/mvvm-support)
* [ItemTemplateSelector](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/templates/item-template-selector)