Treating the client and core as one thing
The client is the interface; the core runs in the background. Swapping clients does not change your profile, swapping cores changes capability.
Basics
What is Clash Meta?
What the name Clash Meta refers to, how it relates to the Mihomo core, and which client to install first.
Content reviewed · Nov 3, 2026
Who it is for
People who just heard the name Clash Meta and are not sure how it relates to Mihomo or Clash.
Before you read
- Know whether you use Windows, macOS, or a phone
- No software installation required yet
Key ideas
- 1
Clash Meta is not a single application. It refers to a family of profile formats and the client ecosystem around them.
- 2
The actual work is done by the core. The common open-source core today is Mihomo, which reads profiles, matches rules, and forwards traffic.
- 3
What you install is a client: a graphical shell that wraps the core so you can change settings with a mouse.
- 4
So “download Clash Meta” usually means downloading a client, not a program called Clash Meta.
Common confusion
Looking for a Clash Meta official site
There is no single site for that name. Each client has its own repository or website, so check the specific project.
Next step
Read what Mihomo is to separate the core from the interface.
Read next：What is Mihomo?