# Introduction to channels

{!channels-intro.md!}

## Browse and subscribe to channels

Everyone other than [guests](/help/guest-users) can subscribe to any
[public](/help/channel-permissions#public-channels) or
[web-public](/help/channel-permissions#web-public-channels) channel. Channel
administrators can [configure](/help/configure-who-can-subscribe) who can
subscribe to [private](/help/channel-permissions#private-channels) channels.

{start_tabs}

{tab|desktop-web}

{relative|channel|not-subscribed}

1. Scroll through the list of channels. You can use the **search box** near the
   top of the menu to filter the list by channel 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 channel to subscribe to it.

!!! tip ""

    You can click on the icons in the upper right to sort the list of channels
    **by name** (<i class="fa fa-sort-alpha-asc"></i>),
    **by number of subscribers** (<i class="fa fa-user-o"></i>), or
    **by estimated weekly traffic** (<i class="fa fa-bar-chart"></i>).

{tab|mobile}

Access this feature by following the web app instructions in your
mobile device browser.

Implementation of this feature in the mobile app is tracked [on
GitHub](https://github.com/zulip/zulip-flutter/issues/188). If
you're interested in this feature, please react to the issue's
description with 👍.

{end_tabs}

## Related articles

* [Introduction to topics](/help/introduction-to-topics)
* [Create channels](/help/create-channels)
* [Channel permissions](/help/channel-permissions)
* [View channel information](/help/view-channel-information)