Basic IRC Commands

IRC commands allow you to perform specific functions on IRC, such as maintaining control of a channel and the users on it. The following list of basic IRC commands will help you get started. There are also other mIRC Commands that you can look at later.

General Commands

/away [message]
Leaves a message indicating that you are currently not paying attention to IRC. When someone sends you a message, they will automatically see your away message. Using /AWAY with no message marks you as no longer being away and removes your previous message.

example:  /away Off to get something to eat, back in a moment.

/invite nickname #channel
Invites a nickname to a channel that you are on.

/join #channel
Joins the specified channel.

example:  /join #irchelp

This will make you join the #irchelp channel. Once on a channel, anything you type will be seen by all the users on this channel. The #irchelp channel is very useful, so say hello and then ask any questions you want. If the channel you specified does not exist, a channel with that name will be created for you.

Some channels may also have keys ie. a password, which you need to specify when using the /join command.

example:  /join #irchelp trout

This will make you join the #irchelp channel using "trout" as the password.

/list [#channel] [-MIN #] [-MAX #]
Lists currently available channels. You can also tell mIRC to show only channels with a minimum and a maximum number of people. If you specify a #channel then mIRC will only list information for that channel. If you specify wildcards, eg. *mirc* then mIRC will list all channels that contain the word mirc in them.

example:        /list
example:        /list -min 5 -max 20
example:        /list #mirc
example:        /list *mirc*

/me message
Tells the current channel or query about what you are doing.

/msg nickname message
Sends a private message to nickname without opening a query window.

/nick nickname
Changes your nickname to a new nickname.

/notice nickname message
Sends a private message to nickname without opening a query window for either you or them.

/part #channel
Leaves a channel that you are on.

/query nickname message
Opens a query window to this nickname and sends them a private message.

/quit [message]
Disconnects you from IRC and will give the optional message as the reason for your departure. (this message only appears to people who are on the same channels as you).

/topic #channel newtopic
Changes the topic for a channel that you are on.

/whois nickname
Shows you information about a nickname.




Channel and User Commands

If you have Op status, the following commands give you control over both a channel and the users on it.

/kick #channel nickname
Kicks a nickname off a channel that you are on.

/mode #channel|nickname [[+|-]modechars [parameters]]
This is a powerful command that gives channel operators control of a channel and the users on it.

               Channel modes
               ------------------------
       ModeChar        Effects on channels
       ~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       b <person>        ban somebody, <person> in "nick!user@host" form
       i                channel is invite-only
       l <number>        channel is limited, <number> users allowed max
       m                channel is moderated, (only chanops can talk)
       n                external /MSGs to channel are not allowed
       o <nickname>        makes <nickname> a channel operator
       p                channel is private
       s                channel is secret
       t                topic limited, only chanops may change it
       k <key>                set secret key for a channel

               User modes
               -------------------
       ModeChar        Effects on nicknames
       ~~~~~~~~        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
       i                makes you invisible to anybody that does
                       not know the exact spelling of your nickname
       o                IRC-operator status, can only be set
                       by IRC-ops with OPER
       s                receive server notices
       v                gives a user a voice on a moderated channel

Here a few examples of the MODE command:

To give someone op status:    /mode #channelname +o nickname

Giving someone op status means giving them control over the channel and the users on it. Give this out sparingly and to people you trust.

To op several people:   /mode #channelname +ooo nick1 nick2 nick3

To de-op someone:    /mode #channelname -o nickname

To ban someone:  /mode #channelname +b nickname (or user address)

To unban someone:  /mode #channelname -b nickname (or user address)

To make a channel invite only:  /mode #channelname +i

You must now invite a user for them to be able to join your channel.