Basic IRC Commands

Every client has a text input area, you generally use this area to chat. Not only can you chat in this area but you can also issue IRC commands. All IRC commands are prefixed with a "/" this is what makes a command just that, a command. Knowing that, that means anything not prefixed with "/" is a message. So knowing this we will go ahead describe some of the most basic IRC commands used.

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== General IRC Commands ==
 
These are some general commands that will allow you to list other public channels, change your nickname as well as things like joining and parting channels.
 
=== Join ===
 
You can join channels by typing the following command: '''<code>/join <#channel></code>'''
 
The above command will make you join #channel.
 
=== Part ===
 
You can part channels by typing the following command: '''<code>/part <#channel> [reason]</code>'''
 
The above command will make you part #channel with an optional reason appended to your part line.
 
=== List ===
 
You can see a list of all public channels by typing the '''<code>/list</code>'''.  Please note that you can only use this command directly when you are authenticated with NickServ or if you are using [http://www.darenet.org/webchat DareNET WebChat].  An alternative to using this command would be to visit [http://www.darenet.org/channels DareNET Channels]
 
=== Nick ===
 
You can easily change your nick by typing '''<code>/nick <newnick></code>'''
 
So if I wanted to change my nick from NiTeMaRe to NiTe I would type '''<code>/nick NiTe</code>'''.
 
Other users would see something like the following:
 
<pre>NiTeMaRe has changed nick to NiTe</pre>
 
=== Quit ===
 
You can quit IRC by typing '''<code>/quit [reason]</code>''' this would make you quit with an optional reason appended to your quit line
 
== Chat ==
 
These are some general commands that allow you to do some cool things such as actions, send messages, notices and other miscellaneous things.
 
=== Emote/Action ===
 
Normally when you chat people see something like:
 
<pre><YourNick> i am cool</pre>
 
You can issue emotes into a channel or private message by typing the following command: '''<code>/me is cool</code>'''
 
The target channel or user will see something like the following
 
<pre>* YourNick is cool</pre>
 
=== MSG ===
 
You can send someone a quick message without opening a separate window by typing '''<code>/msg <nick> <your text here></code>'''
 
Say for example that I wanted to message SecretAgent to ask how he was doing '''<code>/msg SecretAgent Hi SecretAgent how are you doing today?!?!?!</code>'''
 
=== Query ===
 
If instead I wanted to open a dedicated window I would type '''<code>/query <nick> [optional text here]</code>'''
 
So if I typed '''<code>/query SecretAgent Hi! How are you?</code>''' that would open a seperate window and send the message "Hi! How are you?" to SecretAgent.
 
=== Whois ===
 
Say you wanted to get information on someone to see if they were an IRC Operator or what public channels they were in you can type '''<code>/whois <nick></code>'''
 
So if i wanted to see SecretAgent's info I could type '''<code>/whois SecretAgent</code>''' and I would see the following:
 
<pre>SecretAgent [sa@staff.darenet]
realname : woah.
channels : @#support #darenet @#dev @#thelab
server   : *.darenet.org [Daring to be different!]
away     : bbl
         : IRC Operator
account  : SecretAgent
End of WHOIS</pre>