Which characteristic differentiates a public channel from a private channel in Slack?

A defining characteristic of public channels in Slack is that they are open to all workspace members. This accessibility allows anyone in the workspace to join the channel, participate in discussions, view the history, and contribute. Public channels are designed to promote transparency and collaboration within the team, giving all members the opportunity to engage with the topics or projects being discussed.

In contrast, private channels have restricted access, meaning only invited members can join and see the conversations taking place. This feature is particularly useful for sensitive discussions that should not be visible to all members. Additionally, private channels are not automatically created; they must be set up intentionally by a user, further emphasizing the deliberate control over who can participate. Thus, the inherent openness of public channels is what distinctly separates them from private channels.