Getting Started with the Matter Protocol
The cloud of confusion around smart home development was greatly reduced with the introduction of Matter, a new technology standard introduced by the Connectivity Standards Alliance. Learn why Matter matters.
The cloud of confusion around smart home development was greatly reduced with the introduction of Matter, a new technology standard introduced by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) in 2022. If you have ever shopped for devices to make your home a little smarter, you may appreciate the impact Matter is having on the smart home industry.
We all have one or multiple favorite smart home ecosystems, which may be from Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung, or the many other options available. Having so many options is usually a great thing, unless you are a company developing products for and maintaining technology for all those options. The Matter protocol simplifies these divergent systems by allowing companies to design one product, e.g., a wireless light bulb, that will now be compatible with all popular smart home platforms.
Matter is an open-source standard managed by the CSA and, as with most standards organizations, like the Wi-Fi Alliance, Bluetooth SIG, and others, the CSA does a great job highlighting devices that are certified for use with Matter. The CSA maintains a host of resources, FAQ, and documentation, and has a certified products search on its website. On this page you will find two areas, one a search for end products and the other for compliant platforms.
Image credit: CSA
Image credit: CSA
In addition, the “Program Type” filter on the left of the certified products search page lists all of the technologies supported by the CSA, one of which is Matter. A few Matter-compliant suppliers and products are listed below. Please note that this is not a complete listing as there are other variants of these devices available, not to mention other companies who utilized these chips in their modules, devices, and other products.
| Company Name | Part Number | Description |
| Texas Instruments | LP-CC2652R7 | Matter Thread Evaluation Kit |
| Microchip | EV36W50A | Matter Wi-Fi Evaluation Board |
| STMicro | NUCLEO-WB55RG | Matter Thread Evaluation Board using STM32WB5 |
| NXP | IOTZTB-DK006 | Matter Thread Development Kit based on K32W041/061 |
| NXP | OM15080-K32W | Matter USB Dongle (Can be used as Thread Border Router) |
| Espressif | ESP32-C3-DEVKITM-1 | Matter Wi-Fi/Thread Evaluation Board with ESP32 |
| Sparkfun | DEV-20270 | Evaluation Board, based on MGM240P from Silicon Labs |
| Silicon Labs | XG24-PK6009A | Matter Thread Evaluation Board for EFR32MG24 |
| Nordic Semiconductor | THINGY53 | Matter Thread Evaluation Kit |
| Silicon Labs | RS9116X-SB-EVK2 | Matter Wi-Fi/Thread Evaluation Board with RS9116 |
| Infineon | CY8CKIT-062S2-43012 | Matter Wi-Fi Eval Board for PSOC 6 and CYW43012 |
More than 20 years of tremendous effort and an evolution of many different technologies is radically changing the face of today’s smart home.
Another extremely useful reference is the Project CHIP (Matter) github, which offers a lot of examples for your coding pleasure.
Developers of Matter-compliant projects will find a lot of things remain the same, including the need for coding for connectivity and sensors. Where this will vary is in the inclusion of Matter. Utilizing one of the many examples referenced above will save a great deal of time. A multitude of different language examples are available, including, but not limited to, C++, Java, and Python, making this a great option for any developer.
During Matter’s initial develop period, which began in 2019, the working group considered many things related to the software and hardware involved in the protocol, but three key factors were reliability, security, and seamless integration. These factors continually improve as new versions are released. Some of the key security factors include device-unique joining authentication, secure over-the-air updates, and network-wide privacy and integrity. By utilizing the resources listed above, developers can ensure that these security measures and many more are incorporated into their projects. (See more on security in Matter.)
The goal of the Matter technology standard is to unify and simplify smart home connectivity. The Sparkfun Thing Plus Matter Eval Board from DigiKey is incorporated in many smart home technologies.
The goal of the Matter technology standard is to unify and simplify smart home devices and it came together as part of a highly collaborative effort, three years in the making, between a standards alliance and industry giants. However, if we look deeper into Matter, we can start to appreciate it for what it is, 20+ years of tremendous effort and an evolution of many different technologies that is radically changing the face of today’s smart home.
To learn more and get started with Matter visit digikey.com/matter.
Josh Mickolio is the technology business development manager – IoT at DigiKey. DigiKey is both the leader and continuous innovator in the high service distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide, providing more than 15.6 million components from over 3,000 quality name-brand manufacturers.
Like this article? Check out our other articles on Smart Homes and Standards, our Consumer Market Page, and our 2024 Article Archives.
Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletters, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, and check out our eBook archives for more applicable, expert-informed connectivity content.
- Getting Started with the Matter Protocol - September 24, 2024
- The Future of Agriculture will be More Sustainable, Connected Than Ever - August 8, 2023
- Protecting Electronic Supply Chains in an Uncertain World - May 23, 2023
