Comparison of IRC clients facts for kids

Welcome to the world of IRC clients! Imagine you want to chat with friends or join online communities, but not through typical social media apps. That's where IRC comes in!

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a way to chat online using text. It's like a big chat room system where people connect to different servers and channels (which are like specific chat rooms). To join these chats, you need a special program called an IRC client.

This article helps you compare different IRC clients. Think of them as different apps you can use to connect to IRC. Some are simple, some have lots of features, and some work on different types of computers. Let's explore some of the most popular ones!

What are IRC Clients?

IRC clients are software programs that let you connect to IRC networks. Once connected, you can chat with other people in real-time. You can join public channels to talk about specific topics or send private messages to friends.

General Information About IRC Clients

Here's a quick look at some well-known IRC clients. We'll see how they are given out and what kind of user interface they have. Clients shown on a light purple background are no longer being actively updated.

Where Can You Run These Clients?

This section shows which operating systems (like Windows, macOS, or Linux) these IRC clients can run on.

Operating System Support

How Clients Connect and Stay Safe

This section looks at the technical ways IRC clients connect and keep your information secure.

Protocol Support

This table shows what special rules and security features each client supports.

• IPv6: A newer way for computers to connect on the internet.
• SSL and TLS: These are like secret codes that keep your messages private and safe when you send them over the internet.
• SASL: Helps you log in securely to an IRC server.
• OTR: Adds an extra layer of privacy to your direct chats.

Direct Client-to-Client (DCC) Support

Direct Client-to-Client (DCC) is a way for two IRC clients to connect directly to each other. This means they don't have to send information through the main IRC network. It's often used for sending files or having private chats.

Cool Features of IRC Clients

This section highlights some useful features that different IRC clients offer.

Client Features

• Multi-server: Can you connect to more than one IRC network at the same time?
• UTF-8: Can the client show all kinds of characters, including emojis and characters from different languages?
• Proxy server: Can you connect through a special server that hides your real location or helps you get around network blocks?
• irc:// URI scheme: If you click an "irc://" link, will the client open and connect automatically?
• Automatic updates: Does the client update itself, or do you have to do it manually?
• Scripting language: Can you write small programs (scripts) to add new features or automate tasks in the client?

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Clientes IRC para niños

• Comparison of cross-platform instant messaging clients
  • Comparison of user features of messaging platforms
  • Comparison of instant messaging protocols
• Comparison of VoIP software
  • List of SIP software
• Comparison of LAN messengers