STANDARD.HELPIRC

 
 
                      STANDARD IRC COMMANDS
 
 
Author:  Robert D. Blais
Email:  <IO00058@Maine.maine.edu>
        <IO00058@Maine.Bitnet>
Revised:  11 November 1992
Version:  1.10
 
PURPOSE:  This document attempts to explain, in simple terms, the
standard Internet Relay Chat (IRC) commands that all IRC client
programs should support.  It is intended to supply information
for new users not familiar with IRC and to serve as a reference
for experienced users.
     Since there are many different programs on several different
operating systems, client-specific information has been left out.
Users should refer to the documentation that came with their IRC
program to see what internal commands it supports and what, if
any, variations on the standard commands that client might have.
 
NOTATION:  The "standard" command character for IRC clients is
the virgule (/) and has been used exclusively in this document.
However, most IRC client programs allow the user to change the
command character to something else.  If yours is different,
substitute your command character wherever you see a virgule.
     Many of the commands accept arguments and many of the
arguments will vary, depending on exactly what you are doing.
Variable arguments have been listed within angle brackets.  If
there are more than one possible type of argument, the choices
are separated by a pipe (|).  For example, <nickname|channel>
indicates that the argument can either be a user's nickname or a
channel name.
     Commands marked with an asterisk (*) are propagated across
the entire network and should be used sparingly to save bandwidth
and avoid confusion.
     The term "wildcards" is used frequently in this document.
Whenever a command allows wildcards, it means that certain parts
of the command, such as "user" in user@host, can be replaced by
an asterisk (*) and the command will effect the first or possibly
all occurrences that match.  As a rule, if you don't know exactly
what effect wildcards will have, don't use them.
 
CREDITS:  The information contained in this document has been
culled several sources, including the alt.irc group in Usenet
news, the helpserver IRCIIHelp, and from the  author's own
experience using IRC and studying and experimenting with the
code for some of the client programs.  Special thanks to Carl
"LynX" von Loesch for his help and suggestions.
 
AWAY: *
     Occasionally you may be away from your terminal for several
     minutes but want to remain connected to IRC.  The away
     command allows you to specify a message stating that you are
     away and, optionally, should tell people when you'll be
     back.  Other users will see the message whenever they send
     you a private message or run the whois command on your
     nickname.
 
     Syntax:  /away <message>
              /away
 
     <message> is the new message you specify.
     To remove an away message, issue the command with no
     argument.
 
ADMIN:
     The admin command gives the name and email address of the
     person in charge of the IRC server you or another user is
     using.
 
     Syntax:  /admin <nickname>
              /admin
 
     <nickname> is the nickname of the person who's server you
     want administration information from.  If you omit the
     nickname you'll get information about your own server.
 
CHANNEL: *
     The channel command is used to change channels.  On some
     clients it will part you from the last channel you joined,
     but on others it doesn't.
 
     Syntax:  /channel <channel>
 
     <channel> is the name of the new channel you wish to join.
 
INFO:
     The info command gives information about the server
     software.
 
     Syntax:  /info
 
INVITE:
     Occasionally you may want to invite another user to your
     channel.  The easiest way to do so is with the invite
     command.  It is also the only way for other users to join a
     channel if the channel mode +i is in effect on that channel.
 
     Syntax: /invite <nickname> <channel>
 
     <nickname> is the nickname of the person you are inviting
     and <channel> is the channel you are inviting them to.
 
JOIN: *
     Use the join command to join or create a channel.  If the
     channel is public or you have been invited to it, you'll
     join it.  If not, you get a message saying that you cannot
     join the channel.
 
     Syntax:  /join <channel>
 
     <channel> is the channel you wish to join.
 
KICK: *
     The kick command is used by ChanOps to remove an offending
     user from a channel.
 
     Syntax:  /kick <channel> <nickname>
 
     <channel> is the channel the offending user is to be removed
     from and <nickname> is that user's nickname.
 
LIST:
     Use the list command to get a list of active channels.  This
     list will show the channel names, number of users on the
     channel, and the channel topic, if there is one.  If a
     channel has mode +s in effect, it's name will not be shown
     but the number of users and the channel topic will still be
     displayed.
 
     Syntax:  /list
 
LINKS:
     The links command lists the IRC servers currently connected
     to an IRC server.
 
     Syntax:  /links <server>
              /links
 
     <server> is the server whose links you're interested in.  If
     you omit the server, you'll see the links to your own
     server.  Wildcards may be used in server names.
 
LUSERS:
     The lusers command shows how many people are currently on
     IRC.  It is automatically called when you sign onto IRC.
 
     Syntax:  /lusers
 
MODE: *
     There are two types of mode commands.  Channel mode commands
     effect a channel and user mode commands effect only you,
     the user.  Any user can set user modes at any time, but
     you must be a ChanOp to set channel modes.  Several modes
     can be set at once.  (+ or - before the <mode> turns modes
     on or off, respectively)
 
  User modes:
 
     Syntax:  /mode <nickname> <mode>
 
     <nickname> is your nickname and the possible modes are:
      Mode    Description
       i    - Sets you invisible so you don't show up in /who.
       w    - Allows you to see Wallops (messages to IRCOps.)
       s    - Allows you to see server messages and /kills.
       o    - (Available only to IRCOps.)
 
     Note:  some clients have a /umode command for setting
            user modes.
 
  Channel modes:
 
     Syntax:  /mode <channel> <mode> <arguments>
 
     <channel> is the channel you wish to set the mode on and
     available modes and their arguments are shown below.
 
     Mode Arguments   Description
       b <nick>    - Ban <nick> from a channel.  <nick> may be a
                     nickname or a nick!user@host name.
                     Wildcards are allowed if the user@host form
                     is used.
       i           - Makes channel invite-only.
       l <number>  - Limits the number of users on a channel.
                     <number> is the maximum number of users
                     allowed.
       m           - Channel is moderated, so only channel
                     operators can talk.
       n           - No MSGs to the channel are allowed from
                     people not on the channel.
       p           - Channel is private and people on it won't
                     show up in /who, /names, or /whois.  It will
                     show up in /list.
       s           - Channel is secret, so the channel name won't
                     show up in /list.
       t           - Topic limit; only the channel operators may
                     change the topic.
       o <nick>    - Makes <nick> a channel operator.
 
MOTD:
     The MOTD (Message Of The Day) command redisplays the MOTD
     that you saw when you signed on to the server or the new one
     if it has been changed since you signed on.  It can also be
     used to show the MOTD on another server.
 
     Syntax:  /motd <nickname|server>
              /motd
     <nickname|server> is the nickname of another user or a
     server.  If wildcards are used in the server name, the MOTD
     of the first server to match the mask will be shown.
 
MSG:
     Use the msg command to send a private message to another
     user or to a channel.  If you send a private message to a
     single user, only that user will see it (hopefully, but IRC
     is not very secure so use caution.)  If you send it to a
     channel, all the users on that channel will see it.
 
     Syntax:  /msg <nickname|channel> <message>
 
     <nickname|channel> is the person or channel you are sending
     the message to and <message> is the message you want to
     send.
 
NAMES:
     The names command lists the nicknames of all the users
     on a channel or all of the users on IRC (unless they have
     set usermode +i).
 
     Syntax:  /names <channel>
 
     <channel> is the channel you want to list the users on.  If
     <channel> is omitted, you will see a list of nicknames for
     EVERY channel on IRC!
 
NICK: *
     Use the nick command to change your nickname.
 
     Syntax:  /nick <nickname>
 
     <nickname> is the new nickname you want.
 
NOTICE:
     The notice command is generally not necessary, but if you
     have an important message that you want everyone on the
     channel to pay attention to, you might find it useful.  It
     is also a requirement that all automatic replies, such as
     ctcp replies, robot and server replies, etc., be in the form
     of a notice.
 
     Syntax:  /notice <nickname|channel> <message>
 
     <nickname|channel> is the person or channel you are sending
     to and <message> is the message you want people to see.
 
PART: *
     Use the part command to leave a channel.
 
     Syntax:  /part <channel>
 
     <channel> is the channel you wish to leave.
 
QUERY:
     Use the query command to start a private conversation with
     another user or to converse with a particular channel when
     you're on multiple channels.  While in a query, all messages
     you type *without* using the / or /msg  commands, will
     only be seen by the person or channel you are in the query
     with.
 
     Syntax:  /query <nickname|channel>
              /query
 
     <nickname|channel> is the person or channel you wish to
     start a query with.  To end a query and resume talking to
     your channel, issue the command with no argument.
 
QUIT: *
     Use the quit command to end your IRC session.
 
     Syntax:  /quit <reason>
 
     <reason> is optional.  If you want to let people know why
     you're quitting, you can give a brief reason.
 
TIME:
     The time command shows the current time at a server.
 
     Syntax:  /time <nickname|server>
              /time
 
     If <nickname|server> is specified, the time at that server
     will be displayed.  If no argument is given, it will return
     the time at your server.  Wildcards may be used in the
     server name.
 
TOPIC: *
     Use the topic command to set a topic line for your channel.
     The topic line will be displayed in the channel list.
 
     Syntax:  /topic <channel> <topic>
 
     <channel> is the channel you're setting the topic for and
     <topic> is the topic message.
 
TRACE:
     The trace command displays a list of the server links that
     are connected to a particular server.
 
     Syntax:  /trace <server>
              /trace
 
     <server> is the server whose links you want to see.  If you
     omit the server, the links to your server will be shown.
 
VERSION:
     The version command will show what version of IRC a server
     is running.  It can also be used to find out what client
     program another user is using.
 
     Syntax:  /version <nickname|server>
              /version
 
     If a nickname is specified, it will return the client
     version of that user's program.  If a server is specified,
     it will return the version of IRC running on that server.
     If you omit the arguments it will return the version of the
     server you are using.
 
WHO:
     Use the who command to get a list of users on a channel, at
     a particular host, or with a common text string in their
     name.
 
     Syntax:  /who <text|channel|server>
 
     <text|channel|server> can be text in a user's nickname,
     hostname or IRCname, a channel name, or a server name.
     Wildcards are allowed.
 
WHOIS:
     Use the whois command to get specific information about an
     IRC user.
 
     Syntax:  /whois <server> <nickname>
              /whois <nickname>
 
     <server> is the server the user specified in <nickname> is
     on.  <server> may be omitted.
 
WHOWAS:
     Use the whowas command to get information about a user who
     recently left IRC.
 
     Syntax:  /whowas <nickname>
 
     <nickname> is the nickname of the person you want
     information about.
 
/:
     The virgule (/) is used to talk to the current channel when
     you are in a query with another user or channel.  The
     current channel is normally the last channel you joined,
     however, some clients allow you to specify which channel is
     current when you are on multiple channels.
 
     Syntax:  / <message>
 
     <message> is the message to be sent to the current channel.
 
     In addition to the above commands, there are several other
commands that are primarily for the use of IRCOps.  Some of the
commands shown below provide some humorous replies when issued by
regular users, proving that IRC coders have a sense of humor.
Other commands give information which is fairly meaningless to
the average user but hard-core users may be interested.  Try them
at your own risk. :-)
 
CONNECT, DEOP, DIE, HASH, KILL, OPER, PASS, REHASH, RESTART,
SQUIT, STATS.
 
--
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you copy it, please attribute the source.  If you modify it,
please note who you are, what changes you made and the date of
those changes in the document header.  Take the credit you
deserve, but give credit where it is due.  Thanks.