A method is disclosed for rendering messages in an email application on a client computer. A plurality of email messages is received from a server computer, including a first email message, a second email message and a third email message. The first email message is rendered on the client computer with a first conversation icon that identifies the first email message as being part of an email conversation thread. When the first conversation icon is selected on the first email message, a view is rendered showing one or more email messages in the conversation thread. When the second email message is selected, the second email message is rendered on the client computer with a second conversation icon. When the second conversation icon is selected on the second email message, the view showing the one or more email messages in the conversation thread is rendered.