The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is one of the most popular of the Internet interactive services. It is a multiple chat system via the Internet, that is to say, it allows you to establish a written conversation, in public as well as in private, with various users at the same time. The number of participants is practically unlimited, and all those connected can intervene in real time in the debates about subjects and ideas put forward. When you enter a chat session, you communicate by writing messages that are sent to the rest of the participants.

The IRC is used for serious interviews and discussions, as well as for entertainment purposes.

Many chat clients (programmes) tend to include voice and image in the chat.

If you wish to connect to the IRC, you can use the direct access on the menu on the left, or a chat or client programme that is independent of the navigator.

The most popular programmes are mIRC, Pirch and Virc for Windows, and Ircle for Mac.

It does not matter which programme you use, because all of them connect with the same specified server. However, if you wish, you can integrate your chat or client programme as a helper or application associated with your navigator.

Once the programme is installed, the IRC server address will be requested. Just type: