Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a form of real-time Internet text messaging (chat) or synchronous conferencing^[1]. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels^[2], but also allows one-to-one communication via private message^[3] as well as chat and data transfers via Direct Client-to-Client.

IRC is an open protocol that uses TCP^[1] and optionally TLS. An IRC server can connect to other IRC servers to expand the IRC network.^[10] Users access IRC networks by connecting a client to a server.^[11] There are many client implementations such as mIRC or XChat and server implementations, e.g. the original IRCd. Most IRC servers do not require users to register an account but a user will have to set a nickname before being connected.^[12]

The basic means of communication in an established IRC session is a channel.

/join
    Type /join #channelname -- to join a channel of your choice
    Example: /join #bossmom
    What it looks like:
    
    [18:44] *** Now talking in #beginner
    --Op-- bossmom has joined the channel
    [18:44] *** Topic is 'Beginner's Help/Chat Channel....All Are Welcome Here!! ®© [ENGLISH]'
    [18:44] *** Set by X on Sun Jul 23 16:10:34

/me
    The /me is an action message.
    Type /me 'does anything'
    Example: /me waves hello
    What it looks like:
    * bossmom waves hello

/msg
    Type /msg nickname (message) to start a private chat.
    Example: /msg puddytat Hey tat, how are you?
    What it looks like:
    -> *puddytat* Hey tat, how are you?

/nick
    /nick changes your nickname
    Example: type /nick newnickname (limit 9 characters)
    What it looks like: I typed /nick luv2quilt
    *** bossmom is now known as luv2quilt

/notice
    A notice is used to send a short message to another person without opening up a private window.
    Type /notice nickname (message)
    Example: /notice badnick Please change your nickname for this family channel.
    What it looks like:
    -> -badnick- Please change your nickname for this family channel.
/part
    Type /part -- to leave one channel
    Type /partall -- to leave all the channels you are in

/ping
    Type /ping nickname. What this command does is give you the ping time, or lag time, between you and the person you pinged. Lag can be explained as the amount of time it takes for you to type your message and for others to read your messages. Unfortunately, lag is always a part of IRC, although most times it's not a problem, just a nuisance.
    Example: /ping luv2quilt
    What it looks like:
    [19:04] -> [luv2quilt] PING
    [19:04] [luv2quilt PING reply]: 0secs

/query
    Similar to the /msg, except it forces a window to pop open.
    Type /query nickname (message)
    Example: /query Sofaspud^ Sooo....what's new?
    What it looks like:
    <luv2quilt> soooo....what's new?

/quit
    Type /quit to leave IRC altogether. This disconnects mirc from the server.
    Example: /quit Going out for dinner...nite all
    What it looks like:
    *** Quits: saca (Leaving)

/ignore
    Unfortunately, there will be times when you don't want to talk to someone, or else someone may be harassing you.
    By typing /ignore nickname 3, you will not receive anymore messages from that person.
    Example: /ignore luv2quilt 3
    To Unignore them, type /ignore -r luv2quilt 3
    What it looks like:
    *** Added *!*bossmom@*.dialup.netins.net to ignore list
    *** Removed *!*bossmom@*.dialup.netins.net from ignore list

/whois
    Type /whois nickname to see a bit more information about another user. You'll see what server another person is using, or what their ISP is. Pretty helpful when you don't recognize a nickname that wants to chat. You may recognize the IP, (Internet Protocol) and then feel more comfortable carrying on a conversation. You'll also be able to see what other channels a person is in, which might be a good indicator if you really want to talk with them or not.
    Example: /whois bossmom
    What it looks like:
    luv2quilt is bossmom@elwo-01-094.dialup.netins.net * Enjoy the Journey........
    luv2quilt on @#bossmom
    luv2quilt using Seattle.WA.US.Undernet.org the time for school is during a recession.
    luv2quilt has been idle 18secs, signed on Sun Jul 23 18:47:26
    luv2quilt End of /WHOIS list.

/chat
    This opens up a DCC/CHAT window to another user. What's nice about these is that you can continue to chat even if you get disconnected from your server.
    Word of Caution: Do NOT accept dcc/chats nor dcc/gets from anyone that you don't know.
    Type /chat nickname.
    Example: /chat oddjob^
    What it looks like:
    Chat with oddjob^
    Waiting for acknowledgement...

/help
    There's one more very helpful command, and probably the one you'll use a lot when first starting out. In fact, I still use it quite a lot, and that's the built-in help menu of mIRC.
    Type /help, you'll see the the mIRC Help Menu open up. You can do a search from there, or you can type /help topic. Either way, a TON of information at your fingertips.
    Example: /help Basic IRC Commands

PASS

Syntax:
PASS <password>Sets a connection password.^[25] This command must be sent before the NICK/USER registration combination.
A "PASS" command is not required for either client or server connection to be registered, but it must precede the server message or the latter of the NICK/USER combination. It is strongly recommended that all server connections have a password in order to give some level of security to the actual connections. The recommended order for a client to register is as follows: 1. Pass message 2. Nick message 3. User message