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2. What is IRC?

From irchelp.org

1. What is IRC?


IRC (Internet Relay Chat) provides a way of communicating in real time with people from all over the world. It consists of various separate networks of IRC servers, machines that allow users to connect to IRC.

by Ryokincaid See Profile
last modified: 2002-06-01 05:16:46

Well, the IRC Client should come with all the networks you should need, but here is a short list of the more popular ones:


  • EFnet - Also known as Eris Free Network, the grandaddy of IRC
  • DALnet - currently the largest IRC Network
  • Undernet Another pioneer IRC Network


Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • You should throw Gamesurge.net also being thats another big gamers network :\ irc.gamesurge.net

    2009-08-18 14:23:46 (Deft See Profile)

by Ryokincaid See Profile edited by removed See Profile
last modified: 2003-06-15 22:49:43

From the mIRC website: (»www.mirc.com)
IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat". It was originally written by Jarkko Oikarinen in 1988. Since starting in Finland, it has been used in over 60 countries around the world. IRC is a multi-user chat system, where people meet on "channels" (rooms, virtual places, usually with a certain topic of conversation) to talk in groups, or privately. There is no restriction to the number of people that can participate in a given discussion, or the number of channels that can be formed on IRC.

From »www.mirc.com/faq.html#section1 -
mIRC is a shareware IRC Chat client for Windows. It is developed and copyrighted by Khaled Mardam-Bey. The various parts of the program have been designed with the aim of simplifying and speeding up your IRC sessions. mIRC is made to be very configurable... there are a lot of simple switches you can use to personalize mIRC to your needs. And unlike a lot of other IRC programs mIRC still gets more and more mature every new version. You can define your own commands and implement your personal reactions to commands others give to your client.


Feedback received on this FAQ entry:
  • Simple answer: IRC is the type of network (Internet Relay Chat), and mIRC is the "IRC Client" (program used to connect to an IRC network). To elaborate a bit: As of 2023, there are still many IRC networks, or, networks that run text-based chats. mIRC is one of many IRC Client (programs) that can connect to such IRC networks, if you have the "address" (usually something like irc.chatname.com), and the port (often a default port, that may already be in the IRC Client program). Most IRC networks also have some sort of interface or 'web chat' so that you can connect to them through their website without needing an IRC Client like mIRC (there are several such clients available around the internet). But the client often uses shortcuts that makes some commands/options easier to use than the limitations of most web chat interfaces, and client programs are often more or less customizable. Thus, many experienced chatters prefer to use them.

    2023-06-21 12:19:11 (TNTease See Profile)

by removed See Profile
last modified: 2003-06-15 23:00:16