Transient Messages

Send ephemeral real-time messages that are not stored or tracked using the Android SDK

Quick Reference for AI Agents & Developers

// Send transient message to user
val data = JSONObject()
data.put("LIVE_REACTION", "heart")
val transientMessage = TransientMessage("UID", CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER, data)
CometChat.sendTransientMessage(transientMessage)

// Receive transient messages
CometChat.addMessageListener("LISTENER_ID", object : MessageListener() {
    override fun onTransientMessageReceived(transientMessage: TransientMessage) {
        Log.d(TAG, "Transient message: ${transientMessage.data}")
    }
})

Transient messages are messages that are sent in real-time only and are not saved or tracked anywhere. The receiver of the message will only receive the message if he is online and these messages cannot be retrieved later.

Available via: SDK | REST API | UI Kits

Send a Transient Message

You can use the sendTransientMessage() method to send a transient message to a user or in a group. The receiver will receive this information in the onTransientMessageReceived() method of the MessageListener class. In order to send the transient message, you need to use the TransientMessage class.

Java

String receiverId = "cometchat-uid-2";
String receiverType = CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER;

JSONObject data = new JSONObject();
data.put("LIVE_REACTION", "heart");
TransientMessage transientMessage = new TransientMessage(uid, CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER, data);
CometChat.sendTransientMessage(transientMessage);

Kotlin

val receiverId = "cometchat-uid-2"
val receiverType = CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER

val data = JSONObject()
data.put("LIVE_REACTION", "heart")
val transientMessage = TransientMessage(uid, CometChatConstants.RECEIVER_TYPE_USER, data)
CometChat.sendTransientMessage(transientMessage)

Real-time Transient Messages

How do I know when someone sends a transient message?

You will receive the transient message in the onTransientMessageReceived() method of the registered MessageListener class.

Java

CometChat.addMessageListener("UNIQUE_LISTENER_ID", new CometChat.MessageListener() {
  @Override
  public void onTransientMessageReceived(TransientMessage transientMessage) {
    Log.d(TAG, "Transient message received with data : " + transientMessage.getData());  
  }
});

Kotlin

CometChat.addMessageListener("UNIQUE_LISTENER_ID", object : MessageListener() {
  override fun onTransientMessageReceived(transientMessage: TransientMessage) {
    Log.d(TAG, "Transient message received with data : " + transientMessage.data)
  }
}) 

The TransientMessage class consists of the below parameters:

Parameter	Information
sender	An object of the User class holding all the information. related to the sender of the transient message.
receiverId	Unique Id of the receiver. This can be the Id of the group or the user the transient message is sent to.
receiverType	The type of the receiver - CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.USER or CometChat.RECEIVER_TYPE.GROUP
data	A JSONObject to provide data.

Always remove listeners when they’re no longer needed (e.g., in onDestroy() or when navigating away). Failing to remove listeners can cause memory leaks and duplicate event handling.

Best Practices

Use for Ephemeral Events Only

Transient messages are ideal for temporary events like typing indicators, live reactions, or presence updates. For messages that need to be stored or retrieved later, use regular text or custom messages instead.

Keep Data Payload Small

Since transient messages are sent in real-time, keep the data payload minimal to reduce network overhead and improve delivery speed. Avoid sending large objects or binary data.

Handle Offline Recipients Gracefully

Transient messages are only delivered to online users. If delivery confirmation is critical, implement a fallback mechanism using regular messages or check user presence before sending.

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Next Steps

Send Messages

Send text, media, and custom messages that are stored and retrievable

Receive Messages

Handle real-time message delivery with message listeners

Typing Indicators

Show real-time typing status for users and groups

Real-Time Listeners

Learn about all available real-time event listeners