zulip/help/user-groups.md

# User groups

User groups allow you to [mention](/help/mention-a-user-or-group) multiple
users at once, and add users in bulk to an existing stream or user group.
When you mention a user group, everyone in the group is
[notified](/help/dm-mention-alert-notifications) as if they were
individually mentioned.

Note that user groups are not the same as group direct messages. If you're
trying to send a message to a group of people, you'll want to either
[create a stream](/help/create-a-stream), or send a
[group direct message](/help/direct-messages).

## Browse and join user groups

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|group|all}

1. Scroll through the list of user groups. You can use the **search box** near
   the top of the menu to filter the list by group name or description.

1. Click the **plus**
   (<img src="/static/images/help/desktop-web-plus-icon.svg" alt="plus" class="help-center-icon"/>)
   icon to the left of a user group to join the group.

{end_tabs}

## Leave a group

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|gear|group-settings}

1. Click the **checkmark**
   (<img src="/static/images/help/desktop-web-check-icon.svg" alt="checkmark" class="help-center-icon"/>)
   icon to the left of a user group to leave the group.

{end_tabs}

## View a group's card

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

1. Click on a user group's mention in a message to open their **group card**.

{end_tabs}

## Related articles

* [Mention a user or group](/help/mention-a-user-or-group)
* [Create user groups](/help/create-user-groups)
* [Manage user groups](/help/manage-user-groups)
* [Setting up your organization](/help/getting-your-organization-started-with-zulip)
* [Roles and permissions](/help/roles-and-permissions)