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IRC
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a pioneering real-time text messaging protocol designed for group and private communication across the internet. Primarily used for group chat rooms, private messaging, and file sharing, IRC has shaped the foundation of online communication platforms since its inception in the late 1980s..
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) operates using a client-server model where users connect to IRC servers via specialized software clients, enabling participation in public channels or private conversations. Servers are interconnected, forming an IRC network that propagates messages efficiently between users globally. Port 6665 is one of several default ports commonly used by IRC servers – 6660 to 6669 being traditional choices.
IRC's architecture emphasizes simplicity, employing a plaintext command syntax facilitating server and client interoperability. Users authenticate with nicknames and can join multiple channels simultaneously. Server software manages user connections, message routing, channel moderation, and network-wide events.
Since IRC typically uses unencrypted communication over TCP, messages, nicknames, and other data are transmitted in plaintext unless protective measures like SSL/TLS on alternate ports are configured. The protocol also supports extensions and scripting, enabling enhanced functionality and automation within client software.