Snapchat was created by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie brown. It is used worldwide. It is a former Stanford University Student and developed by snap Inc. (originally snapchat Inc.).

One of the main concepts of snapchat is that images and messages are only available until they are inaccessible for a short period of time. The app has evolved from an initial focus on photo sharing between people to a "story" with 24-hour chronological content, plus the "discovery" feature, which enables brands to display short entertainment content supported by advertising. Snapchat represents a new, mobile oriented social media direction, and therefore becomes a famous figure, and attaches great importance to users who interact with virtual mapping and augmented reality objects. As of February 2018, snapchat had 187 million active users per day.

Snapchat is mainly used to create multimedia messages called "snapshots". Snapshots can be composed of photos or clips, and can be edited to include filters and effects, text titles, and graphics. In December 2012, this feature option added the ability to send video snapshots. You can capture up to ten seconds of video by holding down the Photo button inside the application. Once viewed, the video will disappear by default. Spiegel explained that this process allows video data to be compressed to the size of the photo. On May 1, 2014, the function of communication through video chat was added. The update also includes a direct messaging feature that allows users to send short text messages to friends and family, as well as save any needed information by clicking.

In July 2014, a feature called "geographic filter" was added, which allows you to use special graphic overlay layers if you are in a geographic location (such as city, event, or destination). Snapchat users can design and submit their own geographic filters for use on applications. The "lens" feature, introduced in September 2015, allows users to add real-time effects to a snapshot using facial detection technology. Long press the face in the Image Finder to activate this function. In April 2017, snapchat extended this feature to the world lens, which uses augmented reality technology to integrate 3D rendered elements such as objects and animated characters into the scene; these elements are placed and anchored in 3D space.

Snapshots can be privately directed to selected contacts or semi public "stories.". Before the private message photo snapshot cannot be accessed, you can view the user specified length of time (1 to 10 seconds determined by the sender). Previously, users were required to hold the screen down to view the snapshot. This behavior was removed in July 2015. The requirement to remain on screen is intended to frustrate the ability to take a snapshot of a screen; snapchat apps do not block screenshots, but can notify the sender if a save is detected. However, these notifications can be bypassed by making unauthorized changes to the application or by obtaining images externally. You can play the snapshot once a day for free. In September 2015, snapchat introduced the option to purchase additional replays through in app purchases. The ability to purchase additional replays was removed in April 2016.

You can add friends by using a user name and phone contact, using a customizable snapshot code, or by using the add nearby feature, which scans users near their location, which is also in the add nearby menu. Spiegel explained that snapchat was designed to counteract the trend of users being forced to manage their idealized online identities, saying that snapchat "got rid of all the fun of communication.".

In November 2014, snapchat launched the "snapcash" function, which allows users to send and receive money through private messages. The payment system is supported by square.

In July 2016, snapchat introduced a new optional feature called "memory.". Memory allows snapshots and story posts to be saved to a private storage area where they can be viewed together with other photos stored on the device and edited and published as snapshots, story posts or messages. When the current story is shared to the user, the memory will have a white box and a time stamp to indicate its age. You can search for content in the memory store by date or using the local object recognition system. Snapshots that can be accessed in memory can also be placed in the my eyes area locked with a pin. Snapchat said the memory feature was inspired by manually scrolling photos on your phone to show them to others. In April 2017, the white border around the old memory was removed. Techcrunch's original goal was to let viewers know that the material was old, but the indicator "ultimately annoyed users who didn't want to change the snapshot, sometimes even making them decide not to share old content at all."

July 2016 also marks snapchat's acquisition of bitstrips and its application bitmoji, which allows users to design stickers with personalized cartoon heads. At this point, snapchat starts the integration between bitmoji and snapchat, allowing users to link their accounts and use bitmoji stickers in snapshots and messages. Bitmoji characters can also be used as world shots.

Snapchat launched geostickers in August 2016, which allows users to send city specific stickers in snapshots and messages. The initial launch cities were San Francisco (with 15 stickers), Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Honolulu, London, Sydney, Sao Paulo, Paris and Riyadh.

In May 2017, the update made it possible to send a snapshot with unlimited viewing time, deleting the longest duration of the first ten seconds, while the content disappeared after it was intentionally shut down by the recipient. New creative tools have also been released, including the ability to draw with emoticons, loop videos, and erasers that allow users to delete objects in photos while the application fills the background space.

In June 2017, snapchat began allowing users to add links to snapshots, enabling them to direct viewers to specific websites; this feature was only available for previous brands. In addition, more creative tools have been added to this update: the "background" function enables users to cut out specific objects from photos and apply color patterns to them, thus making the objects more focused; and the "voice filter" enables users to remix photos. Their voices rang in a flash. Voice filters were previously part of the augmented reality lens enabled feature, and the new update adds a dedicated speaker icon that allows audio to be remixed in any snapshot