#IRC Reference
Not intended as a guide for newbies, more like a "cheat sheet" for the somewhat experienced IRC user, especially one who wields some power over a channel. Some parts of it may be specific to UnrealIRCd, or mIRC. If you have any questions, comments, complaints, or suggestions, e-mail zach[@]emptv[dot]com. Results may vary, do not use as a flotation device.
##The Basics
/join #channel- Joins the specified channel.
/part #channel- Leaves the specified channel.
/quit [message]- Disconnects from current server with optional leaving message.
/server hostname- Connects to the specified server.
/list- Lists all channels on the current network.
/links- Lists all servers on the current network. May be disabled "for security reasons".
/nick nickname- Changes your nick.
/names #channel- Shows the nicks of all users on #channel.
/msg nickname message- Sends a private message to a user.
/query nickname message- Sends a private message to a user and opens a private chat window.
/me action- Prints "yourname action"
/notice nickname message- Sends a notice to the specified user. Like a /msg, but usually makes a sound.
/whois nickname- Shows information about the specified user. This action is not visible to the specified user.
/whowas nickname- Shows information about a user who has quit.
/dns nickname- Attempts to resolve the IP address of the specified user. Doesn't work on all networks, doesn't work all the time.
/ping nickname- Pings the specified user. This action is visible to the specified user.
##Nick Management (NickServ)
nickserv varies from server to server. on some networks /ns [command] is sufficant on others you must `/msg NickServ [co
/ns register password [email]- Registers your current nick with NickServ with the chosen password and binds it to an e-mail address (optional).
/ns identify password- Identifies your nick to NickServ using the password you set. If you have a nick that's been registered, and you don't i
/ns recover nickname password- Kills (forcibly disconnects) someone who has your registered nick.
/ns ghost nickname password- Terminates a "ghost" IRC session that's using your nickname.
/ns set password yournewpassword- Changes your password. NOTE: Under no circumstances should you change your nick to the letter O followed by 8 digit
##Channel modes
+n Disallows external messages. +t Only op/hops can set the topic. +p Sets the channel as invisible in /list. +s Sets the channel as invisible in /list and /whois. +i Sets the channel as closed unless the person was invited. +k pass Sets a password for the channel which users must enter to join. +l number Sets a limit on the number of users who are allowed in the channel at the same time. +m Prevents users who are not opped/hopped/voiced from talking. +R Sets the channel so only registered nicks are allowed in. +M Sets the channel so only registered nicks are allowed to talk. +S Strips formatting from messages, rendering them as plaintext. +c Blocks messages containing color codes. +i A user must be invited to join the channel. +N No nick changes permitted in the channel. /mode #channel +/-attribute [data]
##ChanServ commands
All ChanServ commands begin with /cs or /chanserv or /msg ChanServ Depending on your client, /cs or /chanserv may not work. /cs identify #channel password Identifies you as the channel's founder and gives you founder-level privileges. /cs set #channel mlock modes Locks the channel's modes. Just + unlocks all. /cs set #channel secureops on|off Keeps everyone except aops, sops, and the founder from becoming ops. /cs set #channel keeptopic on|off Maintains the topic even if everyone leaves. /cs set #channel enforce on|off Restores op/halfop/voice if a person with op/halfop/voice gets de-opped/halfopped/voiced. /cs set #channel leaveops on|off Whether or not to allow the first person who join the channel to get ops. /cs register #channel password description Registers the current channel to you with ChanServ and sets its password and description. /cs drop #channel [dropcode] Un-registers the current channel to you with ChanServ. /cs set #channel founder nickname Sets the current channel's founder. /cs set #channel password newpass Changes the current channel's password to newpass. /cs set #channel desc description Changes the current channel's description. /cs set #channel url address Associates a URL with the channel. /cs set #channel email address Associates an email address with the channel. Other stuff
##Kicking people /kick #channel nickname [reason] Setting people's modes (for current channel only) /mode nickname +/-attributes [data]
##User modes
+q User is owner of the current channel (prefix ~ on UnrealIRCd, usually @ elsewhere) +a User is an admin (SOP) on the current channel (prefix & on UnrealIRCd, usually @ elsewhere). +o User is an operator (AOP) on the current channel (prefix @). +h User is a half-op on the current channel (prefix %). +v User has voice on the current channel (prefix +). Banning people /mode #channel +b hosts Hosts take the following form: nickname!userid@hostname Use /whois, /whowas or /who to find the information necessary for a ban.
- is a wildcard and can replace nickname, userid, parts of nickname or userid, or hostname or segments of hostname.
##Examples: joe!@ Will prevent anyone with the nick joe from joining. myg0t!* Will prevent anyone whose nick contains myg0t from joining. mark!elc@ Will prevent anyone with the nick mark and the userid elc from joining. !@c-123-24-76-213.ga.isp.net Will prevent anyone with the host c-123-24-76-213.ga.isp.net from joining. !@* Bans everyone. Don't do that.
##Access lists
/cs access #channel add nickname level Adds nickname to the channel's access list at the specified level. /cs access channel del nickname Removes nickname from the channel's access list. /cs access #channel list Displays the channel's access list. /cs access #channel count Displays how many entries are in the channel's access list. Access levels
These may vary from network to network. For example, some networks do not go by tens and use 3, 4, 5, 10, etc. Founder Full access to ChanServ functions, automatic opping upon entering channel. 100+ Makes the person an SOP, automatic opping upon entering channel. 50 Makes the parson an AOP, automatic opping upon entering channel. 40 Automatic half-opping. 30 Automatic voicing. 0 No special privileges. -1 May not be opped. -100 May not join the channel. Any nick not on the access list has an access level of 0.
##AOPs and SOPs
AOPs Are automatically ops and can give themselves ops. Can give/take op/halfop/voice to/from other channel members. Can unban themselves. Receive memos sent to the whole channel. Can invite themselves to the channel. SOPs Can do everything AOPs can. Can give and take AOP privileges. Receive memos sent to the channel's SOPs. Can add (but not remove) AKICKs.
Viewing AOP and SOP lists /cs aop #channel list /cs sop #channel list
##AKICKs
People on the AKICK list are automatically kicked and banned when they enter the channel. Bans made as a result of AKICK must be removed manually. /cs akick #channel add host [reason] Adds host to #channel's AKICK list [for reason]. /cs akick #channel del host Removes host from the AKICK list. /cs akick #channel list /cs akick #channel view Displays the AKICK list.