What is IRC, and how do you join from a browser?

IRC, short for Internet Relay Chat, is a text chat system from the late 1980s that is still in daily use. Instead of one company running one app, IRC is made of networks: groups of servers that pass messages between each other. On each network, conversations happen in channels whose names start with a hash sign, such as #general.

You do not need special software to try it. Many chat room sites, especially long-running ones in Turkish, Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese, are a web page that connects you to an IRC network behind the scenes. You type a nickname, press enter and land in a channel. Common web clients include KiwiIRC and The Lounge. On Chatlista, these sites appear both in the web list and under IRC, so you can find them either way.

A few habits make IRC easier. Your nickname is visible to everyone, so pick one that does not reveal your real name. Lines that start with a slash are commands: /join #channel opens a channel, /msg nick text sends a private message and /part leaves a channel. Many networks let you register your nickname so nobody else can use it; guest access usually works without that.

Moderation on IRC is done by channel operators, often shown with an @ or a special colour next to their name. They can warn, mute or remove people, and most networks also have staff who handle abuse across channels. Rules differ by channel, so it is worth reading the topic line at the top when you join.

IRC is quieter and more text-focused than most modern chat apps: no algorithmic feed, few images and conversations that move at the pace of the room. If you want a lasting chat room rather than a quick random match, the IRC list on Chatlista is a good place to start.