What is a channel?
A channel is a chat room. Each channel has its own people, topic, and conversation.
Help Center
Need help with ircWx?
Here are the basics for finding rooms, joining conversations, creating your own channel, and staying comfortable while you chat.
1Find a room
2Join the chat
3Be friendly
Quick start
ircWx is built around rooms, also called channels. Pick a room, choose a nickname, and start chatting.
1
Browse channels
Use the channel browser to see public rooms, topics, languages, and how many people are chatting.
2
Choose Join
The normal Join button opens the current chat. Join V5 opens the newer webchat preview while it is being tested.
3
Say hello
Introduce yourself, follow the room topic, and give people a moment to respond. Live chat moves at a human pace.
Chatting basics
Type your message, press enter, and it appears in the room. Room topics and welcome messages help explain what each room is for.
Nicknames and accounts
Your nickname is how people recognize you. Registering or signing in helps protect your identity and gives you access to more site features.
Creating a channel
Channels are user-created chat rooms. Give yours a clear name, choose a helpful topic, and keep the welcome message friendly.
Create a channelStaying safe
Do not share passwords or private personal information in public rooms. If someone bothers you, leave the room, ignore them, or ask a host for help.
Common questions
Simple answers for common things new users ask.
What does the user count mean?
It shows how many people are currently in that room. A quiet room may still be active later.
Why do some rooms have colorful topics?
Some rooms use classic IRC-style formatting. We keep that personality while making it easier to read on the website.
Where should I go for live help?
Try the HelpDesk room if it is available, or ask a room host or site staff member when you see one online.