educational

An Introduction to IRC: Part 3

In his first installment, Cracker introduced us to IRC, some common terms, and popular clients, while in Part 2 he discussed modes, etiquette, and connecting through a proxy server. In this final installment, Cracker will wrap up his IRC tutorial with a comprehensive list of commands:

IRC Commands
There are many commands that will help you while chatting on IRC; you can send private messages to people, and talk using colors, bold text, etc. If you are using a script, then most of these commands will be built into pop-up windows, so you don't actually have to type them out yourself. My recommendation to learn the commands is to download mIRC and read the help file. It takes a bit of time, but it is very good source of information on IRC commands and operations.

Here's a 'complete' reference list of IRC commands and their syntax:

/ Recalls the previous line entered in the current window.

/! Recalls the last command typed in any window.

/action {action text} Sends the specified action to the active channel or query window.

/add [-apuce] {filename.ini} Loads aliases, pop-ups, users, commands, and events.

/ame {action text} Sends the specified action to all channels which you are currently on.

/amsg {text} Sends the specified message to all channels which you are currently on.

/auser {level} {nick|address} Adds a user with the specified access level to the remote users list.

/auto [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles auto-op of a nick or address or sets it on or off totally.

/away {away message} Sets you as Away, and an away message.

/away Sets you being back.

/ban [#channel] {nickname} [type] Bans the specified nick from the current or given channel.

/beep {number} {delay} Locally beeps 'number' times with 'delay' in between the beeps.

/channel Pops up the channel central window (only works in a channel).

/clear Clears the entire scroll-back buffer of the current window.

/clearall Clears all text in all open windows.

/ctcp {nickname} {ping|finger|version|time|userinfo|clientinfo} Does the given CTCP on nickname.

/closemsg {nickname} Closes the query window you have open to the specified nick.

/commands [on|off] Sets the Tools/Remote/Commands section on or off or checks its status.

/creq [ask | auto | ignore] Sets your DCC 'On Chat request' settings in DCC/Options.

/dcc send {nickname} {file1} {file2} {file3} ... {fileN} Sends the specified files to nick.

/dcc chat {nickname} Opens a DCC window and sends a DCC chat request to nickname.

/dde [-r] {service} {topic} {item} [data] Allows DDE control between mIRC and other applications.

/ddeserver [[on [service name] | off] To turn on the DDE server mode, with a given service name.

/describe {#channel} {action text} Sends the specified action to the specified channel window.

/disable {#groupname} De-activates a group of commands or events.

/disconnect Forces a hard and immediate disconnect from your IRC server. Use it with care.

/dlevel {level} Changes the default user level in the remote section.

/dns {nickname | IP address | IP name} Uses your providers DNS to resolve an IP address.

/echo [nickname|#channel|status] {text} Displays the given text only to YOU.

/enable {#groupname} Activates a group of commands or events.

/events [on|off] Shows the remote events status or sets it to listening or not.

/exit Forces mIRC to closedown and exit.

/finger Does a finger on a users address.

/flood [{numberoflines} {seconds} {pausetime}] Sets a crude flood control method.

/flush [levels] Clears all nicknames from the Remote/users list that are not on your channels.

/font Activates the font selection dialog.

/fsend [on|off] Shows fsends status and allows you to turn DCC fast send on or off.

/fserve {nickname} {maxgets} {homedirectory} [welcome text file] Opens a fileserver.

/groups [-e|d] Shows all (enabled or disabled) groups defined in the remote sections.

/guser {level} {nick} [type] Adds the user to the user list with the specified level and address type.

/help {keyword} Brings up the Basic IRC Commands section in the mIRC help file.

/ignore [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles ignoring of a nick or address or sets it on or off totally.

/invite {nickname} {#channel} Invites another user to a channel.

/join {#channel} Makes you join the specified channel.

/kick {#channel} {nickname} Kicks nickname off a given channel.

/list [#string] [-min #] [-max #] Lists all currently available channels, etc. filtering for parameters.

/load {-apuce} {filename.ini} Loads Aliases, Pop-ups or Remote items into mIRC.

/log [on|off] Shows the logging status or sets it on or off for the current window.

/me {action text} Sends the specified action to the active channel or query window.

/mode {#channel|nickname} [[+|-]modechars [parameters]] Sets channel or user modes.

/msg {nickname} {message} Send a private message to this user without opening a window.

/names {#channel} Shows the nicks of all people on the given channel.

/nick {new nickname} Changes your nickname to whatever you like.

/notice {nick} {message} Send the specified notice message to the nick.

/notify [on|off|nickname] Toggles notifying you of a nick on IRC or sets it on or off totally.

/onotice [#channel] {message} Send the specified notice message to all channel ops.

/omsg [#channel] {message} Send the specified message to all ops on a channel.

/part {#channel} Makes you leave the specified channel.

/partall Makes you leave all channels you are on.

/ping {server address} Pings the given server. NOT a nickname.

/play [-cpqmrlt] [channel/nick] {filename} [delay/linenumber] Allows you to play text files.

/pop {delay} [#channel] {nickname} Performs a randomly delayed +o on a not already opped nick.

/protect [on|off|nickname|address] Toggles protection of a nick or address or sets it on or off.

/query {nickname} {message} Open a window to this user and send them the private message.

/quit [reason] Disconnect you from IRC with the optional bye-bye message.

/raw {raw command} Sends any raw command directly to the server. Use it with care!

/remote [on|off] Shows the remote commands status or sets it to listening or not.

/rlevel {access level} Removes users from the remote users list with the specified access level.

/run {c:\path\program.exe} [parameters] Runs the specified program, etc. with parameters.

/ruser {nick[!]|address} [type] Removes the user from the remote users list.

/save [-apuce] {filename.ini} Saves remote sections into a specified INI file.

/say {text} Says whatever you want to the active window.

/server [server address [port] [password]] Reconnects to the previous server or a new one.

/sound [nickname|#channel] {filename.wav} {action text} Sends an action and sound request.

/speak {text} Uses the external text to speech program Monologue to speak up the text.

/sreq [ask | auto | ignore] Sets your DCC 'On Send request' settings in DCC/Options.

/time Tells you the time on the server you use.

/timer[N] {repetitions} {interval in seconds} {command} [| {more commands}] Activates a timer.

/timestamp [on | off] Sets time stamping on or off for all your conversations.

/topic {#channel} {newtopic} Changes the topic for the specified channel.

/ulist {level} Lists all users in the remote list with the specified access levels.

/url [-d] Opens the URL windows that allows you to surf the www parallel to IRC.

/uwho [nick] Pops up the user central with information about the specified user.

/wavplay {c:\path\sound.wav} Locally plays the specified wave file.

/who {#channel} Shows the nicks of all people on the given channel.

/who {*address.string*} Shows all people on IRC with a matching address.

/whois {nickname} Shows information about someone in the status window.

/whowas {nickname} Shows information about someone who -just- left IRC.

/write [-cidl] {filename} [text] To write the specified text to a .txt file. Many learning opportunities await you there, as well as a lot of possibilities for fun!

And for those of you who get add-on scripts, but don't know how to load them, do this:

/load -rs filename.mrc

and this will unload the script:

/unload -rs filename.mrc

I hope that this tutorial will help you to get involved in the wonderful world of IRC. Many learning opportunities await you there, as well as a lot of possibilities for fun! See you in the channels!

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Stripchat's Jessica on Building Creator Success, One Step at a Time

At most industry events, the spotlight naturally falls on the creators whose personalities light up screens and social feeds. Behind the booths, parties and perfectly timed photo ops, however, there is someone else shaping the experience.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Inside the OCC's Debanking Review and Its Impact on the Adult Industry

For years, adult performers, creators, producers and adjacent businesses have routinely had their access to basic financial services curtailed — not because they are inherently higher-risk customers, but because a whole category of lawful work has long been treated as unacceptable.

Corey Silverstein ·
opinion

How to Build Operational Resilience Into Your Payment Ecosystem

Over the past year, we’ve watched adult merchants weather a variety of disruptions and speedbumps. Some even lost entire revenue streams overnight — simply because they relied too heavily on a single cloud provider that suffered an outage, lacked sufficient redundancy and failover, or otherwise fell short when it came to making sure their business was protected in case of unwelcome surprises.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Building a Stronger Strategy Against Card-Testing Bots

It’s a scenario every high-risk merchant dreads. You wake up one morning, check your dashboard and see a massive spike in transaction volume. For a fleeting moment, you’re excited at the premise that something went viral — but then reality sets in. You find thousands of transactions, all for $0.50 and all declined.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

A Creator's Guide to Starting the Year With Strong Financial Habits

Every January brings that familiar rush of new ideas and big goals. Creators feel ready to overhaul their content, commit to new posting schedules and jump on fresh opportunities.

Megan Stokes ·
opinion

Pornnhub's Jade Talks Trust and Community

If you’ve ever interacted with Jade at Pornhub, you already know one thing to be true: Whether you’re coordinating an event, confirming deliverables or simply trying to get an answer quickly, things move more smoothly when she’s involved. Emails get answered. Details are confirmed. Deadlines don’t drift. And through it all, her tone remains warm, friendly and grounded.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Outlook 2026: Industry Execs Weigh In on Strategy, Monetization and Risk

The adult industry enters 2026 at a moment of concentrated change. Over the past year, the sector’s evolution has accelerated. Creators have become full-scale businesses, managing branding, compliance, distribution and community under intensifying competition. Studios and platforms are refining production and business models in response to pressures ranging from regulatory mandates to shifting consumer preferences.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How Platforms Can Tap AI to Moderate Content at Scale

Every day, billions of posts, images and videos are uploaded to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. As social media has grown, so has the amount of content that must be reviewed — including hate speech, misinformation, deepfakes, violent material and coordinated manipulation campaigns.

Christoph Hermes ·
opinion

What DSA and GDPR Enforcement Means for Adult Platforms

Adult platforms have never been more visible to regulators than they are right now. For years, the industry operated in a gray zone: enormous traffic, massive data volume and minimal oversight. Those days are over.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Making the Case for Network Tokens in Recurring Billing

A declined transaction isn’t just a technical error; it’s lost revenue you fought hard to earn. But here’s some good news for adult merchants: The same technology that helps the world’s largest subscription services smoothly process millions of monthly subscriptions is now available to you as well.

Jonathan Corona ·
Show More