List of IRC commands
{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{how-to |date=June 2024}}
This is a list of all Internet Relay Chat commands from RFC 1459, RFC 2812, and extensions added to major IRC daemons. Most IRC clients require commands to be preceded by a slash ("/"). Some commands are actually sent to IRC bots; these are treated by the IRC protocol as ordinary messages, not as /-commands.
Conventions used here: Angle brackets ("<" and ">") are used here to indicate a placeholder for some value, and are not a literal part of a command. Square brackets ("[" and "]") are used to indicate that a value is optional.
User commands
= ADMIN =
Syntax:
:ADMIN [
Instructs the server to return information about the administrators of the server specified by
| rfc = 1459
| section = 4.3.7
| page = 31
| idanchor = ietf
| title = Admin command
}}
= AWAY =
Syntax:
:
Provides the server with a message to automatically send in reply to a PRIVMSG directed at the user, but not to a channel they are on.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Away
| section = 5.1
| pages = 38 – 39
| idanchor = ietf
}}
If
= CNOTICE =
Syntax:
:
Sends a channel NOTICE message to
Normally an IRC server will limit the number of different targets a client can send messages to within a certain time frame to prevent spammers or bots from mass-messaging users on the network, however this command can be used by channel operators to bypass that limit in their channel. For example, it is often used by help operators that may be communicating with a large number of users in a help channel at one time.
This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is in use by some IRC networks. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the CNOTICE keyword
= CPRIVMSG =
Syntax:
:
Sends a private message to
Normally an IRC server will limit the number of different targets a client can send messages to within a certain time frame to prevent spammers or bots from mass-messaging users on the network, however this command can be used by channel operators to bypass that limit in their channel. For example, it is often used by help operators that may be communicating with a large number of users in a help channel at one time.
This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is in use by some IRC networks. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the CPRIVMSG keyword
= CONNECT =
Syntax:
:
:
Instructs the server
| rfc = 1459
| title = Connect message
| section = 4.3.5
| pages = 29 – 30
| idanchor = ietf
| rfc = 2812
| title = Connect message
| section = 3.4.7
| pages = 28 – 29
| idanchor = ietf
}}
This command should only be available to IRC operators. Defined in RFC 1459; the
= DIE =
Syntax:
:
Instructs the server to shut down.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 2812
| title = Die message
| section = 4.3
| page = 39
| idanchor = ietf
}} This command may only be issued by IRC server operators. Defined in RFC 2812.
= ENCAP =
Syntax:
:
This command is for use by servers to encapsulate commands so that they will propagate across hub servers not yet updated to support them, and indicates the subcommand and its parameters should be passed unaltered to the destination, where it will be unencapsulated and parsed. This facilitates implementation of new features without a need to restart all servers before they are usable across the network.{{Cite web |url=http://www.leeh.co.uk/ircd/encap.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605105226/http://www.leeh.co.uk/ircd/encap.txt |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}
= ERROR =
Syntax:
:
This command is for use by servers to report errors to other servers. It is also used before terminating client connections.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Error
| section = 4.6.4
| page = 38
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= HELP =
Syntax:
:
Requests the server to display the help file. This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is in use by most{{which|date=August 2014}} major IRC daemons.
= INFO =
Syntax:
:
Returns information about the
| rfc = 1459
| title = Info command
| section = 4.3.8
| pages = 31 – 32
| idanchor = ietf
}} Information returned includes the server's version, when it was compiled, the patch level, when it was started, and any other information which may be considered to be relevant. Defined in RFC 1459.
= INVITE =
Syntax:
:
Invites
| rfc = 1459
| title = Invite message
| section = 4.2.7
| page = 25
| idanchor = ietf
}} i is set, only channel operators may invite other clients. Defined in RFC 1459.
= ISON =
Syntax:
:
Queries the server to see if the clients in the space-separated list
| rfc = 1459
| title = Ison message
| section = 5.8
| page = 42
| idanchor = ietf
}} The server returns only the nicknames that are on the network in a space-separated list. If none of the clients are on the network the server returns an empty list. Defined in RFC 1459.
= JOIN =
Syntax:
:
Makes the client join the channels in the comma-separated list
| rfc = 1459
| title = Join message
| section = 4.2.1
| pages = 19 – 20
| idanchor = ietf
}} If the channel(s) do not exist then they will be created. Defined in RFC 1459.
= KICK =
Syntax:
:
Forcibly removes
| rfc = 1459
| title = Kick command
| section = 4.2.8
| pages = 25 – 26
| idanchor = ietf
}} This command may only be issued by channel operators. Defined in RFC 1459.
= KILL =
Syntax:
:
Forcibly removes
| rfc = 1459
| title = Kill message
| section = 4.6.1
| page = 36
| idanchor = ietf
}} This command may only be issued by IRC operators. Defined in RFC 1459.
= KNOCK =
Syntax:
:
Sends a NOTICE to an invitation-only
= LINKS =
Syntax:
:
Lists all server links matching
| rfc = 1459
| title = Links message
| section = 4.3.3
| pages = 28 – 29
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= LIST =
Syntax:
:
Lists all channels on the server.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = List message
| section = 4.2.6
| pages = 24 – 25
| idanchor = ietf
}} If the comma-separated list
= LUSERS =
Syntax:
:
Returns statistics about the size of the network.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 2812
| title = Lusers message
| section = 3.4.2
| pages = 25 – 26
| idanchor = ietf
}} If called with no arguments, the statistics will reflect the entire network. If
= MODE =
Syntax:
:
:
The MODE command is dual-purpose. It can be used to set both user and channel modes.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Mode message
| section = 4.2.3
| pages = 21 – 23
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= MOTD =
Syntax:
:
Returns the message of the day on
| rfc = 2812
| title = Motd message
| section = 3.4.1
| page = 25
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 2812.
= NAMES =
Syntax:
:
:
Returns a list of who is on the comma-separated list of
| rfc = 1459
| title = Names message
| section = 4.2.5
| page = 24
| idanchor = ietf
}} If
| rfc = 2812
| title = Names message
| section = 3.2.5
| pages = 20 – 21
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459; the optional
The response contains all nicknames in the channel prefixed with the highest channel status prefix of that user, for example like this (with @ being the highest status prefix)
::irc.server.net 353 Phyre = #SomeChannel :@WiZ
If a client wants to receive all the channel status prefixes of a user and not only their current highest one, the IRCv3 multi-prefix extension can be enabled (@ is the channel operator prefix, and + the lower voice status prefix):{{cite web |url=http://ircv3.atheme.org/extensions/multi-prefix-3.1 |title=IRCv3 – Welcome |author=Andrew Northall |publisher=ircv3.net |work=atheme.org |access-date=21 February 2016 |archive-date=9 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109104555/http://ircv3.atheme.org/extensions/multi-prefix-3.1 |url-status=live }}
::irc.server.net 353 Phyre = #SomeChannel :@+WiZ
See also NAMESX below for an alternate, older approach to achieve the same effect. However, by today most clients and servers support the new IRCv3 standard.{{cite web|url=http://ircv3.atheme.org/|title=IRCv3 – Welcome|author=Andrew Northall|work=atheme.org|access-date=21 February 2016|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217030215/http://ircv3.atheme.org/|url-status=live}}
= NICK =
Syntax:
:
:
Allows a client to change their IRC nickname. Hopcount is for use between servers to specify how far away a nickname is from its home server.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Nick message
| section = 4.1.2
| pages = 14 – 15
| idanchor = ietf
| rfc = 2812
| title = Nick message
| section = 3.1.2
| pages = 10 – 11
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459; the optional
= NOTICE =
Syntax:
:
This command works similarly to PRIVMSG, except automatic replies must never be sent in reply to NOTICE messages.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Notice
| section = 4.4.2
| page = 33
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= OPER =
Syntax:
:
Authenticates a user as an IRC operator on that server/network.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Oper
| section = 4.1.5
| page = 17
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= PART =
Syntax:
:
Causes a user to leave the channels in the comma-separated list
| rfc = 1459
| title = Part message
| section = 4.2.2
| pages = 20 – 21
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= PASS =
Syntax:
:
Sets a connection password.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Password message
| section = 4.1.1
| page = 14
| idanchor = ietf
}} This command must be sent before the NICK/USER registration combination. Defined in RFC 1459.
= PING =
Syntax:
:
Tests the presence of a connection.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Ping message
| section = 4.6.2
| page = 37
| idanchor = ietf
}} A PING message results in a PONG reply. If
= PONG =
Syntax:
:
This command is a reply to the PING command and works in much the same way.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Pong message
| section = 4.6.3
| pages = 37 – 38
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= PRIVMSG =
Syntax:
:
Sends
| rfc = 1459
| title = Private messages
| section = 4.4.1
| pages = 32 – 33
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= QUIT =
Syntax:
:
Disconnects the user from the server.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Quit
| section = 4.1.6
| pages = 17 – 18
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= QUOTE =
Syntax:
:
Sends a command string to the server as-is, i.e. without parsing it in the client application.
| url = https://irssi.org/documentation/help/quote/
| title = quote - Irssi help page
| author = Irssi developers
}}
/quote is cited in the mIRC documentation ([https://www.mirc.com/help/html/index.html?mirc_commands.html]) as an equivalent of mIRC's /raw command, but which is supported in the other IRC clients.
= REHASH =
Syntax:
:
Causes the server to re-read and re-process its configuration file(s).{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Rehash message
| section = 5.2
| page = 39
| idanchor = ietf
}} This command can only be sent by IRC operators. Defined in RFC 1459.
= RULES =
Syntax:
:
Requests the server rules. This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is used by most{{which|date=August 2014}} major IRC daemons.
= SERVER =
Syntax:
:
The server message is used to tell a server that the other end of a new connection is a server.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Server message
| section = 4.1.4
| pages = 16 – 17
| idanchor = ietf
}} This message is also used to pass server data over the whole network.
Defined in RFC 1459.
= SERVICE =
Syntax:
= SERVLIST =
= SQUERY =
Syntax:
:
Identical to PRIVMSG except the recipient must be a service.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 2812
| title = Squery
| section = 3.5.2
| page = 32
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 2812.
= SQUIT =
Syntax:
:
Causes
| rfc = 1459
| title = Server quit message
| section = 4.1.7
| pages = 18 – 19
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= SETNAME =
Syntax:
:
Allows a client to change the "real name" specified when registering a connection.
This command is not formally defined by an RFC, but is in use by some IRC daemons. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the SETNAME keyword
= SILENCE =
Syntax:
:
Adds or removes a host mask to a server-side ignore list that prevents matching users from sending the client messages. More than one mask may be specified in a space-separated list, each item prefixed with a "+" or "-" to designate whether it is being added or removed. Sending the command with no parameters returns the entries in the client's ignore list.
This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is supported by most{{which|date=August 2014}} major IRC daemons. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the SILENCE keyword and the maximum number of entries a client may have in its ignore list. For example:
::irc.server.net 005 WiZ WALLCHOPS WATCH=128 SILENCE=15 MODES=12 CHANTYPES=#
= STATS =
Syntax:
:
Returns statistics about the current server, or
| rfc = 1459
| title = Stats message
| section = 4.3.2
| pages = 27 – 28
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= SUMMON =
Syntax:
:
:
Gives users who are on the same host as
| rfc = 1459
| title = Summon message
| section = 5.4
| page = 40
| idanchor = ietf
| rfc = 2812
| title = Summon message
| section = 4.5
| page = 40
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459; the optional
= TIME =
Syntax:
:
Returns the local time on the current server, or
| rfc = 1459
| title = Time message
| section = 4.3.4
| page = 29
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= TOPIC =
Syntax:
:
Allows the client to query or set the channel topic on
| rfc = 1459
| title = Topic message
| section = 4.2.4
| pages = 23 – 24
| idanchor = ietf
}} If
= TRACE =
Syntax:
:
Trace a path across the IRC network to a specific server or client, in a similar method to traceroute.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Trace message
| section = 4.3.6
| pages = 30 – 31
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= USER =
Syntax:
:
:
This command is used at the beginning of a connection to specify the username, hostname, real name and initial user modes of the connecting client.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = User message
| section = 4.1.3
| pages = 15 – 16
| idanchor = ietf
| rfc = 2812
| title = User message
| section = 3.1.3
| page = 11
| idanchor = ietf
}}
= USERHOST =
Syntax:
:
Returns a list of information about the nicknames specified.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Userhost message
| section = 5.7
| page = 42
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= USERIP =
Syntax:
:
Requests the direct IP address of the user with the specified nickname. This command is often used to obtain the IP of an abusive user to more effectively perform a ban. It is unclear what, if any, privileges are required to execute this command on a server.
This command is not formally defined by an RFC, but is in use by some IRC daemons. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the USERIP keyword.
= USERS =
Syntax:
:
Returns a list of users and information about those users in a format similar to the UNIX commands who, rusers and finger.{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Users
| section = 5.5
| pages = 40 – 41
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= VERSION =
Syntax:
:
Returns the version of
| rfc = 1459
| title = Version message
| section = 4.3.1
| pages = 26 – 27
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= WALLOPS =
Syntax:
:
Sends
| rfc = 1459
| title = Operwall message
| section = 5.6
| page = 41
| idanchor = ietf
| rfc = 2812
| title = Operwall message
| section = 4.7
| pages = 41 – 42
| idanchor = ietf
}} Defined in RFC 1459.
= WATCH =
Syntax:
:
Adds or removes a user to a client's server-side friends list. More than one nickname may be specified in a space-separated list, each item prefixed with a "+" or "-" to designate whether it is being added or removed. Sending the command with no parameters returns the entries in the client's friends list.
This command is not formally defined in an RFC, but is supported by most{{which|date=August 2014}} major IRC daemons. Support is indicated in a RPL_ISUPPORT reply (numeric 005) with the WATCH keyword and the maximum number of entries a client may have in its friends list. For example:
::irc.server.net 005 WiZ WALLCHOPS WATCH=128 SILENCE=15 MODES=12 CHANTYPES=#
= WHO =
Syntax:
:
Returns a list of users who match
| rfc = 1459
| title = Who query
| section = 4.5.1
| pages = 33 – 34
| idanchor = ietf
}} If the flag "o" is given, the server will only return information about IRC operators. Defined in RFC 1459.
= WHOIS =
Syntax:
:
Returns information about the comma-separated list of nicknames masks
| rfc = 1459
| title = Whois query
| section = 4.5.2
| pages = 34 – 35
| idanchor = ietf
}} If
= WHOWAS =
Syntax:
:
Used to return information about a nickname that is no longer in use (due to client disconnection, or nickname changes).{{cite IETF
| rfc = 1459
| title = Whowas
| section = 4.5.3
| page = 35
| idanchor = ietf
}} If given, the server will return information from the last
| rfc = 2812
| title = Whowas
| section = 3.6.3
| page = 34
| idanchor = ietf
}}
Defined in RFC 1459.
See also
References
{{Reflist|23em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite IETF
| title = Internet Relay Chat Protocol
| rfc = 1459
| last1 = Oikarinen
| first1 = Jarkko
| author-link1 = Jarkko Oikarinen
| last2 = Reed
| first2 = Darren
|date=May 1993
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
| ref = ietf
}}
- {{cite IETF
| title = Internet Relay Chat: Client Protocol
| rfc = 2812
| last = Kalt
| first = Christophe
|date=April 2000
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
| ref = ietf
}}
Further reading
- {{cite IETF
| title = A Discussion on Computer Network Conferencing
| rfc = 1324
| last = Reed
| first = Darren
|date=May 1992
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
}}
- {{cite IETF
| title = Internet Relay Chat: Architecture
| rfc = 2810
| last = Kalt
| first = Christophe
|date=April 2000
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
}}
- {{cite IETF
| title = Internet Relay Chat: Channel Management
| rfc = 2811
| last = Kalt
| first = Christophe
|date=April 2000
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
}}
- {{cite IETF
| title = Internet Relay Chat: Server Protocol
| rfc = 2813
| last = Kalt
| first = Christophe
|date=April 2000
| publisher = IETF
| access-date = 30 October 2009
}}
{{IRC topics}}
{{authority control}}