internet relay chat

1 definition found

internet relay chat - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Internet Relay Chat
  IRC
  
     <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 (http://yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/Chat/IRC/)
     .
  
     (1998-01-25)