Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for instant messaging, and file transfer. It supports both private messaging as well as group chat. Multiple clients on multiple platforms enable users to use IRC. It forms an ideal chat network over the internet. People can host their own servers to run IRC, or join channels on existing servers.

Connecting to a server

/server <server_name>

Example

/server irc.freenode.net

Joining/Creating a channel

/join <channel_name>

Example

/join #help

Registering your nick name

/msg nickserv register

Example

/msg nickserv register pass123 mymail@gmail.com

Registering your channel

On most servers, you can register a channel only after your nick name is registered.

/msg chanserv register <channel_name>

Example

/msg chanserv register #help iloveirc IRC Help

Changing your nick name

/nick <new_nickname>

Example

/nick samurai123

Leaving a channel

/part