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66 changes: 33 additions & 33 deletions faq/new2irc.md
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Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
---
title: The IRC Prelude
author: David Caraballo (DC-itsme) and Joseph Lo (Jolo)
dateupdated: 02 July 2020
dateupdated: 30 December 2025
layout: default
license: irchelp
redirect_from: /irchelp/new2irc.html
Expand All @@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The original version of this page is at <http://www.irchelp.org/faq/new2irc.html

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](/irchelp/networks/) (or "nets") of IRC servers, machines that allow
[networks](/networks/) (or "nets") of IRC servers, machines that allow
users to connect to IRC. The largest nets are [EFnet](http://www.efnet.org/)
(the original IRC net, often having more than 32,000 people at once),
[Undernet](http://www.undernet.org/), [IRCnet](http://ircnet.org/),
Expand All @@ -36,16 +36,16 @@ users to connect to IRC. The largest nets are [EFnet](http://www.efnet.org/)


Generally, the user (such as you) runs a program (called a "client") to
connect to a server on one of the [IRC nets](/irchelp/networks/). The server
connect to a server on one of the [IRC nets](/networks/). The server
relays information to and from other servers on the same net. Recommended
clients:


* [UNIX/Linux Clients](/clients/unix/)
* [irssi](/irchelp/clients/unix/irssi/) - terminal-mode client
* [xchat](/irchelp/clients/unix/xchat.html) - X11 (graphical) client
* [irssi](/clients/unix/irssi/) - terminal-mode client
* [hexchat](/clients/cross/hexchat.html) - X11 (graphical) client
* [Windows Clients](/clients/windows/)
* [mIRC](/irchelp/clients/windows/mirc/)
* [mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/)
* [Macintosh clients](/clients/mac/)


Expand All @@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ clients:
Once connected to an IRC server on an IRC network, you will usually join one
or more "channels" and converse with others there. On
[EFnet](http://www.efnet.org/), there often are more than 12,000
[channels](/irchelp/chanlist/), each devoted to a different topic.
[channels](/chanlist/), each devoted to a different topic.
Conversations may be public (where everyone in a channel can see what you
type) or private (messages between only two people, who may or may not be on
the same channel). IRC is not a "game", and I highly recommend you treat
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ common, e.g., "john" is a poor choice. On some nets, nicks do not belong to
anyone, nor do channels. This can lead to conflict, so, if you feel strongly
about ownership of such things, you may prefer networks with "services" like
[Undernet](http://www.undernet.org/), [DALnet](http://www.dal.net/), or other
[smaller networks](/irchelp/networks/).
[smaller networks](/networks/).



Expand All @@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ where you are more welcome.



[IRC servers](/ircd/) are run by IRC admins and by [IRC
operators](/ircd/ircopguide.html), or "IRC ops". IRC ops manage the
[IRC servers](/ircd/) are run by IRC admins and by
[IRC operators](/ircd/ircopguide.html), or "IRC ops". IRC ops manage the
servers themselves and, on EFnet and many other networks, do not get involved
in personal disputes, channel takeovers, restoring lost ops, etc. They are
_not_ "IRC cops."
Expand All @@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ _not_ "IRC cops."

Commands and text are typed in the same place. By default, commands begin
with the character / . If you have a graphical client such as
[mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/) for Windows, many commands can be executed by clicking
[mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/) for Windows, many commands can be executed by clicking
on icons with the mouse pointer. It is, however, highly recommended that you
learn to type in the basic IRC commands first. When entering commands, pay
close attention to spacing and capitalization. The basic commands work on all
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -232,8 +232,8 @@ servers, so it are unaffected by server lag, net splits, etc.

/quit good night!

You quit IRC completely, with the parting comment so that others see "***
Signoff: yournick (good night!)***".
You quit IRC completely, with the parting comment so that others see
**Signoff: yournick (good night!)**.



Expand All @@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ a while. For starters, try these channels: #new2irc, #newuser, #newbies, or #cha



For help with the [mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/) client, try joining
For help with the [mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/) client, try joining
[#new2mirc](http://www.mirc.co.uk/chat/n2mircef.chat) or
[#mirchelp](http://www.mirc.co.uk/chat/mircheef.chat). For help with general
IRC questions, join #irchelp.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -331,22 +331,22 @@ not taken. Consult the MOTD or network homepage for details if you want to regis

**Disconnected by /list?** If you get disconnected when using the /list
command, try switching servers, or else recent channel lists are available on
the WWW at [http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/chanlist/](/irchelp/chanlist/).
the WWW at [http://www.irchelp.org/chanlist/](/chanlist/).


**Harassment and attacks** If someone starts harassing or flooding you,
leave the channel or use the /ignore command. For more details,
[mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/) users see our
[flood protection](/clients/windows/mirc/flood.html) page, [ircII](/irchelp/ircii/) users
[mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/) users see our
[flood protection](/clients/windows/mirc/flood.html) page, [ircII](/clients/unix/ircii/) users
type [/help ignore](/clients/unix/ircii/commands/irciihelp/ignore.html). It is a good idea to set
your user mode to +i (invisible) to avoid unsolicited messages and harassment
-- if you are "invisible" generally only users on a channel with you can
determine what nick you are using.


If somebody else is crashing or disconnecting you, see our [Denial of
Service or "Nuke" Attacks](/irchelp/nuke/) page. You can also [log and report
abuse](/security/irclog.html) when it violates server rules, which you can
If somebody else is crashing or disconnecting you, see our
[Denial of Service or "Nuke" Attacks](/nuke/) page. You can also
[log and report abuse](/security/irclog.html) when it violates server rules, which you can
read by typing /motd.


Expand All @@ -359,29 +359,29 @@ commands above should suffice for beginners, but things can go wrong in IRC.



**Net splits** [Networks](/irchelp/networks/) can become divided (called
**Net splits** [Networks](/networks/) can become divided (called
a "net split"), thus separating you from users you had been speaking with.
These splits are often relatively short, though common some days.



**Lag** A more frequent problem is "lag", where there is a noticeable
delay between the time you type something in and someone else reads it.
[Choosing a server](/irchelp/networks/) near you is one way to
[Choosing a server](/networks/) near you is one way to
try to lessen lag. Lag can be measured by using the /ping command (see the
commands section above). Once you find a better server, the command for
changing servers is /server server.name.here.



**[Server Lists](/irchelp/networks/)** On most clients, typing /links
**[Server Lists](/networks/)** On most clients, typing /links
gives a list of servers on your current net. Use this command sparingly, no
more than a couple times in a row, or you may be mistaken for a "link looking"
troublemaker.



**Ping? Pong!** [mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/) users: _Ping? Pong!_ in the
**Ping? Pong!** [mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/) users: _Ping? Pong!_ in the
status window just means your server pinged you to make sure you were still
connected, and your client automatically replied with a pong. Don't worry
about these.
Expand All @@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ establish a one-on-one connection that avoids lag and will not be broken by a
net split! Check your docs for usage info. In most clients, you can set up a
DCC chat connection by both typing /dcc chat nick_of_other_person. To talk
through that connection, type /msg =nick whatever (note the = sign). In
[mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/), you can also start a DCC chat session by selecting
[mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/), you can also start a DCC chat session by selecting
_DCC_ and then _Chat_ from the menu and then entering the nick of the user
with whom you wish to chat. A window opens for that dcc chat session.

Expand All @@ -411,12 +411,12 @@ you can find many [help files](/faq/), such as:



* [IRC Primer](/irchelp/ircprimer.html)
* [IRC Primer](/faq/ircprimer.html)

* [FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)](/faq/altircfaq.html) for
[alt.irc](news:alt.irc) newsgroup

* [IRC tutorial](/irchelp/irctutorial.html)
* [IRC tutorial](/faq/irctutorial.html)



Expand All @@ -425,11 +425,11 @@ IRC clients, including:



* [ircII client](/irchelp/ircii/)
* [ircII client](/clients/unix/ircii/)

* [Mac clients](/irchelp/mac/)
* [Mac clients](/clients/mac/)

* [mIRC client](/irchelp/mirc/) for Windows
* [mIRC client](/clients/windows/mirc/) for Windows



Expand All @@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ organized into groups like Windows, Macintosh, DOS, Amiga, Java, etc.



The [mIRC](/irchelp/mirc/) client also has excellent built-in help files
The [mIRC](/clients/windows/mirc/) client also has excellent built-in help files
written by Tjerk Vonck ([email protected]). Select _Ircintro.hlp_ from the _Help_
menu.

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ Special thanks to FreeSoft, prysm, hershey, turtle, Ariell, and other #irchelp
helpers on EFnet for their many helpful suggestions.

Now that you've read this beginner's guide, get on IRC and enjoy! Or if you
are interested in learning more, check out the many documents on the [#IRChelp
home page](/).
are interested in learning more, check out the many documents on the
[#IRChelp home page](/).

* * *