IRC Commands

he IRC networks are currently the most popular form of communication between Internet users. IRC, which stands for Internet Relay Chat, is a type of program, which allows users to talk to each other in real-time, using typed messages in an IRC chat room, or chat 'channel', as they're more commonly known. Users use clients to access IRC servers, which in turn are used to connect the users to the IRC network. On the network, are dozens of chat rooms, and logged into the chat rooms are hundreds of users, engaging in conversation with their friends.

What distinguishes IRC from other Java-based chat programs, or Instant Messengers, are its commands, which are assigned to perform some function or another in the IRC program. Some commands bear resemblance to those used in the Java chat programs, but most are unique to IRC.

IRC Commands in Three Easy Steps

The particulars of IRC commands can be summarised in three points:

1. They are always initiated by the forward slash ('/') prefix. This lets the program know that the user is typing a command, and not talking to other users. Not including the prefix over-rides the command status, and instead, just shows it on-screen, as if it was a typed message to the other users.

2. In command syntax, channel names are prefaced by the "gate" ('#') prefix. This lets the program know that the user is performing a command on a channel, and not on another user.

3. IRC commands aren't case sensitive. Typing, for instance, /join #BobsPlace or /join #bobsplace will have exactly the same effect.

Basic IRC Commands

The basic IRC commands allow users to perform the more common tasks in the program, such as changing their name, joining or leaving a channel, or sending a message privately to someone. To perform a command, type it out, and then press 'Return' (the Enter key). Note that other, more obscure IRC commands do exist, but the list below includes all of the basic functions which chatters are likely to use on the network.

a. The /join command is used for a user to join a channel.
Syntax: /join [#] - where # is the the channel name.

Example:
User: /join #thegreciangrove - this would result in the user joining channel 'thegreciangrove'

b. The /part or /leave command is used for a user to leave a channel, without leaving the IRC network.
Syntax: /leave [#] or /part [#]

Example:
User: /part #thegreciangrove or User: /leave #thegreciangrove - either of these would result in the user leaving channel 'thegreciangrove', but still remaining logged in to the IRC network.

c. The /quit command is used for a user to exit any channel they are in, and to log out of the IRC network.
Syntax: /quit [message]

Example:
User: /quit - this would result in the user logging out of IRC, and exiting any channel they were in.

/quit commands can also have a message sent with them. The message will be seen by any users who are in the same channel as the quitting user. The message is typed after the command, with a space between them.

Example:
User: /quit I have to go to the doctor's! - this would result in the user logging out of IRC, exiting any channel they are in, and sending a final message, that they have a medical appointment.

d. The /msg command is used for a user to send a private message to another user. The message will only be seen by the sending and receiving users, and no-one else.
Syntax: /msg <user nickname> Message

Example:
User: /msg Heather Hello! - this would result in Heather receiving a message from the user, which says "Hello!". Only Heather and the user will have the message displayed on-screen, not any of the other users.

Messages which are sent privately are displayed on screen between two asterisks ('*'s).
Example:
Bob: Yeah, well, I like CS ..
Dan: I think it's a stupid game.
Bob: Really?
*Bob: This guy's bonkers..* -This message was sent privately to the user. Only Bob and the user have this message on-screen.
Dan: Yes, really. It's a stupid game.

e. The /query command is used to open a new window of dialogue with another user. The messages displayed will only be the ones between the two users, not those which are being sent in the channel the users are on.
Syntax: /query <user nickname>

Example:
User: /query Jane - this would result in the user opening a new window, where only messages sent to and received from Jane will be displayed.

f. The /who command, and the /whois, /whowas sub-commands are used to display information on individual users, generally their IP details.

Information is generally shown as follows:

Amy is user@4323.demon.co.uk * AmyPotter - Amy's IP address, and real name.
Amy on @#funchannel - The channels Amy is on.
Amy using valinor.sorcery.net Elvenhome near Seattle - The server Amy is using.
Amy has been idle 13secs, signed on Fri Sep 07 20:50:02 - Other details.
Amy End of /WHOIS list. - End of List.

Syntax: /who [#]
Syntax: /whois <user nickname> or /whowas <user nickname>

Example:
User: /who #surftime - this would result in the information of all users of channel 'surftime' being displayed.

Example:
User: /whois Alex - this would result in Alex's information being displayed to the user. Note that the /whois command only works on users who are currently on IRC.

Example:
User: /whowas Tor - this would result in Tor's information being displayed to the user. Note that the /whowas command only works on users who have recently left (quitted) IRC, not those who are currently on IRC.

g. The /nick command is used to change the nickame (chat room name) of a user.
Syntax: /nick newnickname

Example:
User: /nick Phil - This would result in the user's nickname being changed to Phil, as long as another user isn't using the 'Phil' nickname at the time.

Nicknames can be registered by using the IRC NickServ service. This is a program, in which all registered nicknames are stored. When registering a nickname, a user supplies a password, which they are prompted to enter whenever they (or anyone else) uses that name. Failure to identify with the correct password will result in the user's name being forcefully changed.

Syntax: /msg <NickServ> [command] Password

The two most common NickServ commands are Register and Identify.

Example:
User: /nick Crusader - the user's nickname changes to Crusader.
Crusader: /msg NickServ register Crusader Saracen - this would result in the nickname 'Crusader' being registered with the password 'Saracen'.

When a user chooses the 'Crusader' nickname, they will be prompted to give the correct password.

Example:
Crusader: /msg NickServ Identify Saracen - this would result in the user of 'Crusader' authenticating their ownership of the nickname.

Users generally have 30-45 seconds in which to identify to their nickname, otherwise it is forcefully changed.

Warning: Registered nicknames expire. If a user does not identify to their nickname within a set period of time, usually between 14 and 21 days, depending on the IRC server they use, then their nickname is deleted from the list of registered names. All exclusive rights to the nickname are therefore lost, and the name must be registered again.

h. The /me command displays a user perform an action, not speaking.
Syntax: /me Action

The user's name, followed by their action, is displayed on-screen.

Example:
If the user name with the nickname Kelly was to type: /me waves to Brendon, then the following would be displayed on-screen: Kelly waves to Brendon

i. The /ignore command allows a user to block any messages from another user. The ignored user can send messages, but the user who ignored them will not receive any from that user.
Syntax: /ignore <user nickname>

Example:
User: /ignore Jack - this would result in the user not receiving any more messages from Jack.

j. The /list command is used to show a list of channels currently running on the server. However, the list of channels won't be updated (in case channels are created or deleted, for instance), until the command is issued again.
Syntax: /list

Example:
User: /list - Would list all the channels of the server the user was on.

j. The /invite command is used to inviate another user on IRC to join the user on IRC.
Syntax: /invite <user nickname> [#]

Example:
User: /invite Destiny #Torsplace - This would invite Destiny to join the user at channel 'Torsplace'.

Channel Operator Commands

Channel Operators, or 'ops' as they're affectionately known, are in charge of IRC chat rooms. Each room might have one Operator, two, three, or more. The head Operator is the user who originally created the channel, known as the Channel Founder.

Operators use the usual commands for chatting, but can call upon the channel itself to perform other tasks, such as to set the channel's topic of conversation, or to eject unruly chatters.

a. The /kick command temporarily ejects chatters from the channel, after which they can re-enter as normal.
Syntax: /kick [#] [nickname]

Example:
@User: /kick #football Donald - this would kick Donald from the channel football.

b.The /mode +x commands are the different settings which can be applied to a channel, where x is the setting. To over-ride the setting, a -x is used in the command instead.

/mode [#] +b [address: *!*username@*.host.domain] - Sets the channel to ban (disallow entry to) any user from the channel. The address element can be found in the user's information, obtained by running a /whois command on that user.

Example:
@User: /mode [#funchannel] +b *!*user@*.demon.co.uk - this would stop the user with that address from entering the channel until the ban is lifted. To lift a ban, the command is repeated, only with -b instead of +b:
@User: /mode [#funchannel] -b *!*user@*.demon.co.uk

/mode [#] +m - Sets the channel to 'moderated' mode, where only Channel Operators can send and receive messages in the channel.

/mode [#] +v [nickname] - Used in conjunction with +m mode. After setting a channel to moderated mode, a user can be given permission to speak by setting the mode to +v.

Example:
/mode #rats +v Roland - If channel 'rats' was moderated, then Roland would be able to send and receive messages in the chat room, even if he's not an Operator.

/mode [#] +s - This makes the channel secret. It will not be shown in a channels listing, but can still be joined if the channel name is known, however.

/mode [#] +p - This makes the channel private. The channel cannot be joined unless an invite is issued. The users on the channel can be listed with a /who command.

/mode [#] +i - This makes the channel invite only. You must be invited by another nick on the channel to join.

/mode [#] +t - This restricts channel topic changes to operators only. Topics can be changed by users or operators with the /topic command.
Syntax: /topic [#] topic

Example:
User: /topic #football Which is the best team in England? - This would change the topic of conversation in channel 'football' to "Which is the best team in England?"

/mode [#] +n prevents messages from outside the channel from being sent to the channel. This does not affect personal messages to individual users. /mode #newbies +n

/mode [#] +l [number] - This limits the number of users (including operators) who may occupy the channel. Once the limit has been reached, no more users may join the channel.

Example:
@User: /mode #palace +l 8 - This has limited the number of users to eight. No more users will be able to join the channel until one of the eight leaves.

/mode [#] +k [keyword] - This sets a password for the channel. Users cannot join without typing /join #channelname [keyword].

Example:
@User: /mode #anime +k pokemon
Sarah: /join #anime pokemon - Sarah has to add the password to the /join command, otherwise she won't be able to join channel 'anime'.

Registering Channels with ChanServ

To create a channel, type /join #channelname, where the channel name is the name of the channel to be registered. If the channel has not been already registered, then the user should find themselves in an empty channel, with them being the operator (the @ should be before their nickname).

Now the channel needs to be registered to the user's name. If the channel isn't registered, it'll disappear as soon as all chatters leave it empty, and will have to be created again. To register a channel, users can use the ChanServ Service. Note that there are other ways of keeping a channel in the list, even when all the users leave, such as with bots, but using ChanServ is the most effective method. The syntax for ChanServ commands is as follows:

/msg ChanServ [command] channel [specify action]

Specifically, to register a channel:

/msg Chanserv register #WestHamUnited football - this would register the channel 'WestHamUnited' with the channel password 'football'.

The channel password is known only to the Channel Founder, who must identify to ChanServ whenever they join the channel. This grants them the highest level of operator power which can be obtained.

Warning: Registered channels expire, just like registered nicknames. If a user does not identify to their registered channel within a set period of time, usually between 14 and 21 days, depending on the IRC server they use, then their channel is deleted from the list of registered channels. Also, if the Channel Founder's nickname expires, then the channel(s) which they registered also do.

Any questions about IRC commands should be submitted here.

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