Browse articles tagged with #basics, ordered by publication date where new
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basics
How to find IRC channels worth joiningIRC has no global directory and no algorithm suggesting rooms — finding good channels is a skill. Project documentation, alis, netsplit.de, and how to judge whether a channel is alive.
How to join an IRC channel in 2 minutes (no account needed)How to join an IRC channel today, in a browser, with no account and no download. The quick method, proper client setup, the commands you need, and the mistakes every newcomer makes.
How to register a nickname on IRC (NickServ and SASL)Registering your IRC nickname takes one minute, protects your identity, and unlocks channels that require it. This guide covers NickServ registration and setting up SASL so you never have to log in manually again.
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) explained: what it is and how it worksInternet Relay Chat is the original internet chat protocol, older than the web itself and still running today. What it is, how it works, real examples of who uses it in 2026, and how to try it yourself in five minutes.
IRC etiquette: the unwritten rules, written downIRC has thirty years of cultural norms that nobody tells you about until you break one. Here they are, written down — from "don't ask to ask" to pastebin discipline and the patience problem.
IRC in 2026: the complete guide to Internet Relay ChatEverything on ircbits, organised. What IRC is, how to get on it in five minutes, which networks matter in 2026, and how to run and build on it — a map of the whole site, start to finish.
IRC security and privacy: TLS, SASL, cloaks and not leaking your IPIRC is an old protocol with some sharp edges. The handful of settings that matter — encrypted connections, SASL login, hiding your IP with a cloak, safe DCC, and the VPN/Tor rules — so you can use it without leaking anything you didn't mean to.
Web IRC: how to use IRC in your browserEvery major IRC network runs a web client you can open right now — no download, no account. The webchat address for each network, what a browser tab can and cannot do, and the web clients that stay connected after you close it.