# .NET MAUI Chat Typing Indicator

The `TypingIndicator` functionality of the `RadChat` component allows you to indicate that other Chat participants are currently typing.

By default, the `TypingIndicator` is not visible. As soon as its `Authors` (or `ItemsSource`) collection is updated, it is displayed with a text message indicating the authors' names. It can also be displayed explicitly by setting the `IsTyping` and/or `IsVisible` properties to `true`.

The text message is built according to the count of authors like this:

* If the collection of `Authors` contains 1 item: "\[Author name] is typing";
* If the authors are two: "\[Author 1 name] and \[Author 2 name] are typing";
* If the authors are three: "\[Author 1 name], \[Author 2 name] and \[Author 3 name] are typing";
* If the authors are four or more: "\[Author 1 name], \[Author 2 name] and 2 others are typing";

When the `Authors` (or `ItemsSource`) collection is cleared, the `TypingIndicator` is hidden.

In addition, by setting the `Text` property of the indicator, the text message can be replaced with any other of your choice.

## Adding a Typing Indicator

To add a typing indicator, set the `TypingIndicator` property of the `RadChat` control:

```XAML
<telerik:RadChat x:Name="chat">
    <telerik:RadChat.TypingIndicator>
        <telerik:TypingIndicator x:Name="typingIndicator" IsVisible="true" />
    </telerik:RadChat.TypingIndicator>
</telerik:RadChat>
```

To display the typing indicator, use the `Authors` collection. You can use the `Authors` collection, which is of type `ObservableCollection<Author>` to show the participants who are currently typing. Here is a quick example:

```C#
var author1 = new Author { Name = "Sandra" };
var author2 = new Author { Name = "John" };
chat.Author = author2;

chat.Items.Add(new TextMessage { Author = author2, Text = "Hello there" });
chat.Items.Add(new TextMessage { Author = author1, Text = "Hi, John" });

typingIndicator.Authors.Add(author1);
typingIndicator.Authors.Add(author2);

Task.Delay(3000).ContinueWith(t =>
{
    Application.Current.Windows[0].Page.Dispatcher.Dispatch(() =>
    {
        this.typingIndicator.Authors.Clear();
        this.chat.Items.Add(new TextMessage { Author = author2, Text = "What are you doing today?" });
        this.chat.Items.Add(new TextMessage { Author = author1, Text = "Do you have any plans for the afternoon?" });
    });
});
```

The following images shows the results from the example above:

> caption `RadChat` with a typing indicator

![Telerik UI for .NET MAUI Chat typing indicator showing Sandra, John, and Billy are typing](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/assets/d78031c768990fdb3de903eac12945d1/chat-typing-indicator.png)

## See Also

* [Commands](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/commands)
* [Chat Items](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/items/overview)
* [MVVM Support](https://www.telerik.com/maui-ui/documentation/controls/chat/mvvm-support)