IRC Glossary

A list of important IRC terms.

A

AKick

Automatic Kick. People on the AKick list will be automatically kicked and banned by the services upon joining that channel.

AOP

Automatic OP - You will be made a channel operator automatically when you enter the channel. Same as access level 5 if xOP is disabled.

B

Ban

Bans will prevent you from joining a specific channel.

BOPM

Blitzed Open Proxy Monitor, a bot that will look for and ban users that use an open proxy.

Bot

Robots that perform certain tasks automatically.

BotServ

Bot service. Allows you to assign a specific bot to a channel. Can be accessed with the command /bs

Bouncer

Used to relay the traffic of a network, basically hiding your original host.

BNC

See Bouncer

C

Channel

One "chat room" on the IRC server. Channel names typically start with #.

Channel Admin

These people have the same rights as Channel operators, but can also manage the akick list, badword filters, ... Marked by an @ symbol before their nickname (or & in some cases).

Channel Founder

The person who created the channel. The founder has the most rights over the channel. Each channel can only have one founder, but anyone with the channel password can use the founder commands. Marked by a @ symbol before their name (or ~ in some cases).

Channel Key

Certain channels require you to type a certain keyword before being able to join it (Use the /join #[channel] [key] command). Set with channel mode +k.

Channel Operator

Channel operators can change the topic of the channel and ban/kick people.

Channel Owner

See Channel Founder

ChanOp

See Channel Operator.

ChanServ

Channel service. A service bot that allows you to register/manage a specific channel. Can be accessed with the command /cs

Client

Software that connects to the IRC server.

Cloak

See vHost

Command

Commands can invoke different actions. All commands start with /. Examples: /msg, /mode, /nick, ....

CTCP

Client to Client Protocol.

D

DCC

Direct Client-to-Client. Establishes a connection directly with the Computer of another IRC user. This can be used for greater security. A DCC will not disconnect if the server does.

F

Founder

See Channel Founder.

G

G-Line

Global ban from the entire IRC network. They can only be set by IRCops.

H

HalfOP

Basically a Channel Operator, but with limited abilities (they can not kick Operators or above for example).

HelpServ

Help Service. A bot that gives info about other service bots.

HOP

(Automatic) HalfOP. Will grant you HalfOP status when you enter a channel. Same as access level 4 if xOP is disabled.

Host

Your hostname contains your IP and ISP. Can be hidden using a vHost.

HostServ

Host service. This bot allows you to (de)active your vHost. It can not add vHosts, those need to be added by an IRCop. Can be accessed with the command /hs.

I

Invite

Ask someone to join a certain channel.

IRC

Internet Relay Chat.

IRCd

See IRC daemon.

IRC daemon

The software that runs on the IRC server.

IRC Operator (IRCop)

IRCops are server wide operators. They can also use some special commands (through OperServ) to apply vHosts or to ban people from the whole server.

K

Key

See Channel Key.

Kick

Operators can kick you out of a channel if you misbehave. You will be able to re-join the channel immediately.

K-Line

A ban from an IRC server. Can only be set by IRCops.

L

Lag

Time delay between the moment you send a message and the moment other users receive it.

M

MemoServ

Memo service. A bot that allows you to send small memos to other users, even when they are offline. It can also send memos to a channel, in which case the message will be sent to the channel operators, admins and founder. Can be accessed with the command /ms.

Mode

Channels and users can have various modes that have different effects. Channel modes can only be set by Operators.

N

Nick(name)

The name that is publicly visible.

NickServ

Nickname service. A service bot that allows you to register your nickname to prevent others from using it. Can be accessed with the command /ns.

Notice

Message sent to a specific user or channel. A notice will always appear in a users active window. They should not be used for extended private conversations. No automatic replies can be set to notices.

O

O-Line

Determines who is an IRCop and who isn't.

OP

Operator, see Channel Operator.

Oper

See IRCop

OperServ

Operator service. A bot used by IRCops only.

P

Private message

A message to a single person privately. Similar to the PM system on the forums.

Q

Q-Line

Global ban from a server based on Nickname (instead of Host).

Query

See Private message.

R

RootServ

A services bot used by root Admins. Usually merged into OperServ.

S

Services Administrator

The person responsible for maintaining the IRC server and daemon. They are able to assign IRCops.

Services Bot

Special bots implemented by the IRCd. On the GBAtemp network, all services bots have gbatemp.net as host.

Services Operator (SysOp)

See IRCop.

SOP

Super Operator, see Channel Admin.

V

vHost

Virtual host. You can ask an IRCop for a vHost if you want to hide your real host.

Voice

People with a Voice will be able to reply to channels that have mode +m set. If mode +m is not set, it can be used as a status symbol. They are marked by a + before their nickname.

VOP

VOice People/Automatic Voice. Automatically gives a user a Voice upon joining the channel.

W

Whois

Display information about a specific connected user. Activated by the /whois [username] command.

X

xOP

When xOP is activated, aliases like AOP, VOP, ... can be used for the access list of a channel, else the access level number has to be used.