Internet Relay Chat

chat, messaging (IRC) /I-R-C/, occasionally /*rk/ A

client-server chat system of large (often worldwide)

networks. IRC is structured as networks of Internet

servers, each accepting connections from client programs,

one per user.

The IRC community and the Usenet and MUD communities

overlap to some extent, including both hackers and regular

folks who have discovered the wonders of computer networks.

Some Usenet jargon has been adopted on IRC, as have some

conventions such as emoticons. There is also a vigorous

native jargon (see the entry for "chat").

The largest and first IRC network is EFNet, with a smaller

breakaway network called the Undernet having existed since

1992, and dozens of other networks having appeared (and

sometimes disappeared) since.

See also nick, bot, op.

Yahoo's IRC index.

(1998-01-25)