IRC Terminology

Published by bynw on Tuesday, September 17, 2024

IRC Terminology

IRC = Internet Relay Chat – It is the grandfather of all internet based chat applications, created in 1988, it predates the World Wide Web. IRC is a system that allows you to connect to a server, and join unique chat rooms (known as channels). You can be in multiple channels at once, send and receive private messages with other users, and even send and receive files.
Server = The chat rooms (known as channels) are hosted on a server. There are hundreds of servers available. Our server name is irc.otherworlders.org.
Network = IRC Servers are able to link together to form a network. This allows people to connect to a server that is physically closer to them, thereby decreasing lag.
Lag = When your messages take longer than expected to show up at the other side. This is usually more prominent when people are connected to seperate servers in a network.
Netsplit = When the connection between two or more servers is lost. When this happens, you will see a group of people suddenly quit at the same time. Servers usually join back together by themselves after a few minutes.
Client = The client is the application you install on your computer and use to access the IRC server. There are IRC client applications for all operating systems.
OSX – iChat, ircle
Linux – xCHAT, ircii, irssi
Windows – xCHAT, mIRC
Firefox Plugin – Chatzilla
Many web based apps all over the place.
Channel = A “chat room”, unique to the server or network you are connected to. All Channels begin with the # sign. Like the #Training channel we will be joining later.
User = You. An average chatter. No special rights on the server
Op/Chanop = an administrator of a specific channel, on a specific server. When a channel is created, the first user to join the channel is granted Op rights, as indicated by an @ symbol next to their name. Channel Operators have the ability to set channel modes, set the topic, kick and/or ban people from channels, and they generally control what happens in their channel. We will cover Ops in more detail later in this training session.
Oper/IRCop = Server Administrator, Have the ability to kick and/or ban from the server.