RFC 1459
Internet Relay Chat Protocol
4. Message details On the following pages are descriptions of each message recognized by the IRC server and client. All commands described in this section must be implemented by any server for this protocol. Where the reply ERR_NOSUCHSERVER is listed, it means that the <server> parameter could not be found. The server must not send any other replies after this for that command. The server to which a client is connected is required to parse the complete message, returning any appropriate errors. If the server encounters a fatal error while parsing a message, an error must be sent back to the client and the parsing terminated. A fatal error may be considered to be incorrect command, a destination which is otherwise unknown to the server (server, nick or channel names fit this category), not enough parameters or incorrect privileges. If a full set of parameters is presented, then each must be checked for validity and appropriate responses sent back to the client. In the case of messages which use parameter lists using the comma as an item separator, a reply must be sent for each item. In the examples below, some messages appear using the full format: :Name COMMAND parameter list Such examples represent a message from "Name" in transit between servers, where it is essential to include the name of the original sender of the message so remote servers may send back a reply along the correct path. 4.1 Connection Registration The commands described here are used to register a connection with an IRC server as either a user or a server as well as correctly disconnect. A "PASS" command is not required for either client or server connection to be registered, but it must precede the server message or the latter of the NICK/USER combination. It is strongly recommended that all server connections have a password in order to give some level of security to the actual connections. The recommended order for a client to register is as follows:
1. Pass message
2. Nick message
3. User message
4.1.1 Password message
Command: PASS
Parameters: <password>
The PASS command is used to set a 'connection password'. The
password can and must be set before any attempt to register the
connection is made. Currently this requires that clients send a PASS
command before sending the NICK/USER combination and servers *must*
send a PASS command before any SERVER command. The password supplied
must match the one contained in the C/N lines (for servers) or I
lines (for clients). It is possible to send multiple PASS commands
before registering but only the last one sent is used for
verification and it may not be changed once registered. Numeric
Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_ALREADYREGISTRED
Example:
PASS secretpasswordhere
4.1.2 Nick message
Command: NICK
Parameters: <nickname> [ <hopcount> ]
NICK message is used to give user a nickname or change the previous
one. The <hopcount> parameter is only used by servers to indicate
how far away a nick is from its home server. A local connection has
a hopcount of 0. If supplied by a client, it must be ignored.
If a NICK message arrives at a server which already knows about an
identical nickname for another client, a nickname collision occurs.
As a result of a nickname collision, all instances of the nickname
are removed from the server's database, and a KILL command is issued
to remove the nickname from all other server's database. If the NICK
message causing the collision was a nickname change, then the
original (old) nick must be removed as well.
If the server recieves an identical NICK from a client which is
directly connected, it may issue an ERR_NICKCOLLISION to the local
client, drop the NICK command, and not generate any kills.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NONICKNAMEGIVEN ERR_ERRONEUSNICKNAME
ERR_NICKNAMEINUSE ERR_NICKCOLLISION
Example:
NICK Wiz ; Introducing new nick "Wiz".
:WiZ NICK Kilroy ; WiZ changed his nickname to Kilroy.
4.1.3 User message
Command: USER
Parameters: <username> <hostname> <servername> <realname>
The USER message is used at the beginning of connection to specify
the username, hostname, servername and realname of s new user. It is
also used in communication between servers to indicate new user
arriving on IRC, since only after both USER and NICK have been
received from a client does a user become registered.
Between servers USER must to be prefixed with client's NICKname.
Note that hostname and servername are normally ignored by the IRC
server when the USER command comes from a directly connected client
(for security reasons), but they are used in server to server
communication. This means that a NICK must always be sent to a
remote server when a new user is being introduced to the rest of the
network before the accompanying USER is sent.
It must be noted that realname parameter must be the last parameter,
because it may contain space characters and must be prefixed with a
colon (':') to make sure this is recognised as such.
Since it is easy for a client to lie about its username by relying
solely on the USER message, the use of an "Identity Server" is
recommended. If the host which a user connects from has such a
server enabled the username is set to that as in the reply from the
"Identity Server".
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_ALREADYREGISTRED
Examples:
USER guest tolmoon tolsun :Ronnie Reagan
; User registering themselves with a
username of "guest" and real name
"Ronnie Reagan".
:testnick USER guest tolmoon tolsun :Ronnie Reagan
; message between servers with the
nickname for which the USER command
belongs to
4.1.4 Server message
Command: SERVER
Parameters: <servername> <hopcount> <info>
The server message is used to tell a server that the other end of a
new connection is a server. This message is also used to pass server
data over whole net. When a new server is connected to net,
information about it be broadcast to the whole network. <hopcount>
is used to give all servers some internal information on how far away
all servers are. With a full server list, it would be possible to
construct a map of the entire server tree, but hostmasks prevent this
from being done.
The SERVER message must only be accepted from either (a) a connection
which is yet to be registered and is attempting to register as a
server, or (b) an existing connection to another server, in which
case the SERVER message is introducing a new server behind that
server.
Most errors that occur with the receipt of a SERVER command result in
the connection being terminated by the destination host (target
SERVER). Error replies are usually sent using the "ERROR" command
rather than the numeric since the ERROR command has several useful
properties which make it useful here.
If a SERVER message is parsed and attempts to introduce a server
which is already known to the receiving server, the connection from
which that message must be closed (following the correct procedures),
since a duplicate route to a server has formed and the acyclic nature
of the IRC tree broken.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_ALREADYREGISTRED
Example:
SERVER test.oulu.fi 1 :[tolsun.oulu.fi] Experimental server
; New server test.oulu.fi introducing
itself and attempting to register. The
name in []'s is the hostname for the
host running test.oulu.fi.
:tolsun.oulu.fi SERVER csd.bu.edu 5 :BU Central Server
; Server tolsun.oulu.fi is our uplink
for csd.bu.edu which is 5 hops away.
4.1.5 Oper
Command: OPER
Parameters: <user> <password>
OPER message is used by a normal user to obtain operator privileges.
The combination of <user> and <password> are required to gain
Operator privileges.
If the client sending the OPER command supplies the correct password
for the given user, the server then informs the rest of the network
of the new operator by issuing a "MODE +o" for the clients nickname.
The OPER message is client-server only.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS RPL_YOUREOPER
ERR_NOOPERHOST ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH
Example:
OPER foo bar ; Attempt to register as an operator
using a username of "foo" and "bar" as
the password.
4.1.6 Quit
Command: QUIT
Parameters: [<Quit message>]
A client session is ended with a quit message. The server must close
the connection to a client which sends a QUIT message. If a "Quit
Message" is given, this will be sent instead of the default message,
the nickname.
When netsplits (disconnecting of two servers) occur, the quit message
is composed of the names of two servers involved, separated by a
space. The first name is that of the server which is still connected
and the second name is that of the server that has become
disconnected.
If, for some other reason, a client connection is closed without the
client issuing a QUIT command (e.g. client dies and EOF occurs
on socket), the server is required to fill in the quit message with
some sort of message reflecting the nature of the event which
caused it to happen.
Numeric Replies:
None.
Examples:
QUIT :Gone to have lunch ; Preferred message format.
4.1.7 Server quit message
Command: SQUIT
Parameters: <server> <comment>
The SQUIT message is needed to tell about quitting or dead servers.
If a server wishes to break the connection to another server it must
send a SQUIT message to the other server, using the the name of the
other server as the server parameter, which then closes its
connection to the quitting server.
This command is also available operators to help keep a network of
IRC servers connected in an orderly fashion. Operators may also
issue an SQUIT message for a remote server connection. In this case,
the SQUIT must be parsed by each server inbetween the operator and
the remote server, updating the view of the network held by each
server as explained below.
The <comment> should be supplied by all operators who execute a SQUIT
for a remote server (that is not connected to the server they are
currently on) so that other operators are aware for the reason of
this action. The <comment> is also filled in by servers which may
place an error or similar message here.
Both of the servers which are on either side of the connection being
closed are required to to send out a SQUIT message (to all its other
server connections) for all other servers which are considered to be
behind that link.
Similarly, a QUIT message must be sent to the other connected servers
rest of the network on behalf of all clients behind that link. In
addition to this, all channel members of a channel which lost a
member due to the split must be sent a QUIT message.
If a server connection is terminated prematurely (e.g. the server on
the other end of the link died), the server which detects
this disconnection is required to inform the rest of the network
that the connection has closed and fill in the comment field
with something appropriate.
Numeric replies:
ERR_NOPRIVILEGES ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
Example:
SQUIT tolsun.oulu.fi :Bad Link ? ; the server link tolson.oulu.fi has
been terminated because of "Bad Link".
:Trillian SQUIT cm22.eng.umd.edu :Server out of control
; message from Trillian to disconnect
"cm22.eng.umd.edu" from the net
because "Server out of control".
4.2 Channel operations
This group of messages is concerned with manipulating channels, their
properties (channel modes), and their contents (typically clients).
In implementing these, a number of race conditions are inevitable
when clients at opposing ends of a network send commands which will
ultimately clash. It is also required that servers keep a nickname
history to ensure that wherever a <nick> parameter is given, the
server check its history in case it has recently been changed.
4.2.1 Join message
Command: JOIN
Parameters: <channel>{,<channel>} [<key>{,<key>}]
The JOIN command is used by client to start listening a specific
channel. Whether or not a client is allowed to join a channel is
checked only by the server the client is connected to; all other
servers automatically add the user to the channel when it is received
from other servers. The conditions which affect this are as follows:
1. the user must be invited if the channel is invite-only;
2. the user's nick/username/hostname must not match any
active bans;
3. the correct key (password) must be given if it is set.
These are discussed in more detail under the MODE command (see
section 4.2.3 for more details).
Once a user has joined a channel, they receive notice about all
commands their server receives which affect the channel. This
includes MODE, KICK, PART, QUIT and of course PRIVMSG/NOTICE. The
JOIN command needs to be broadcast to all servers so that each server
knows where to find the users who are on the channel. This allows
optimal delivery of PRIVMSG/NOTICE messages to the channel.
If a JOIN is successful, the user is then sent the channel's topic
(using RPL_TOPIC) and the list of users who are on the channel (using
RPL_NAMREPLY), which must include the user joining.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_BANNEDFROMCHAN
ERR_INVITEONLYCHAN ERR_BADCHANNELKEY
ERR_CHANNELISFULL ERR_BADCHANMASK
ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL ERR_TOOMANYCHANNELS
RPL_TOPIC
Examples:
JOIN #foobar ; join channel #foobar.
JOIN &foo fubar ; join channel &foo using key "fubar".
JOIN #foo,&bar fubar ; join channel #foo using key "fubar"
and &bar using no key.
JOIN #foo,#bar fubar,foobar ; join channel #foo using key "fubar".
and channel #bar using key "foobar".
JOIN #foo,#bar ; join channels #foo and #bar.
:WiZ JOIN #Twilight_zone ; JOIN message from WiZ
4.2.2 Part message
Command: PART
Parameters: <channel>{,<channel>}
The PART message causes the client sending the message to be removed
from the list of active users for all given channels listed in the
parameter string.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL
ERR_NOTONCHANNEL
Examples:
PART #twilight_zone ; leave channel "#twilight_zone"
PART #oz-ops,&group5 ; leave both channels "&group5" and
"#oz-ops".
4.2.3 Mode message
Command: MODE
The MODE command is a dual-purpose command in IRC. It allows both
usernames and channels to have their mode changed. The rationale for
this choice is that one day nicknames will be obsolete and the
equivalent property will be the channel.
When parsing MODE messages, it is recommended that the entire message
be parsed first and then the changes which resulted then passed on.
4.2.3.1 Channel modes
Parameters: <channel> {[+|-]|o|p|s|i|t|n|b|v} [<limit>] [<user>]
[<ban mask>]
The MODE command is provided so that channel operators may change the
characteristics of `their' channel. It is also required that servers
be able to change channel modes so that channel operators may be
created.
The various modes available for channels are as follows:
o - give/take channel operator privileges;
p - private channel flag;
s - secret channel flag;
i - invite-only channel flag;
t - topic settable by channel operator only flag;
n - no messages to channel from clients on the outside;
m - moderated channel;
l - set the user limit to channel;
b - set a ban mask to keep users out;
v - give/take the ability to speak on a moderated channel;
k - set a channel key (password).
When using the 'o' and 'b' options, a restriction on a total of three
per mode command has been imposed. That is, any combination of 'o'
and
4.2.3.2 User modes
Parameters: <nickname> {[+|-]|i|w|s|o}
The user MODEs are typically changes which affect either how the
client is seen by others or what 'extra' messages the client is sent.
A user MODE command may only be accepted if both the sender of the
message and the nickname given as a parameter are both the same.
The available modes are as follows:
i - marks a users as invisible;
s - marks a user for receipt of server notices;
w - user receives wallops;
o - operator flag.
Additional modes may be available later on.
If a user attempts to make themselves an operator using the "+o"
flag, the attempt should be ignored. There is no restriction,
however, on anyone `deopping' themselves (using "-o"). Numeric
Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS RPL_CHANNELMODEIS
ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED ERR_NOSUCHNICK
ERR_NOTONCHANNEL ERR_KEYSET
RPL_BANLIST RPL_ENDOFBANLIST
ERR_UNKNOWNMODE ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL
ERR_USERSDONTMATCH RPL_UMODEIS
ERR_UMODEUNKNOWNFLAG
Examples:
Use of Channel Modes:
MODE #Finnish +im ; Makes #Finnish channel moderated and
'invite-only'.
MODE #Finnish +o Kilroy ; Gives 'chanop' privileges to Kilroy on
channel #Finnish.
MODE #Finnish +v Wiz ; Allow WiZ to speak on #Finnish.
MODE #Fins -s ; Removes 'secret' flag from channel
#Fins.
MODE #42 +k oulu ; Set the channel key to "oulu".
MODE #eu-opers +l 10 ; Set the limit for the number of users
on channel to 10.
MODE &oulu +b ; list ban masks set for channel.
MODE &oulu +b *!*@* ; prevent all users from joining.
MODE &oulu +b *!*@*.edu ; prevent any user from a hostname
matching *.edu from joining.
Use of user Modes:
:MODE WiZ -w ; turns reception of WALLOPS messages
off for WiZ.
:Angel MODE Angel +i ; Message from Angel to make themselves
invisible.
MODE WiZ -o ; WiZ 'deopping' (removing operator
status). The plain reverse of this
command ("MODE WiZ +o") must not be
allowed from users since would bypass
the OPER command.
4.2.4 Topic message
Command: TOPIC
Parameters: <channel> [<topic>]
The TOPIC message is used to change or view the topic of a channel.
The topic for channel <channel> is returned if there is no <topic>
given. If the <topic> parameter is present, the topic for that
channel will be changed, if the channel modes permit this action.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_NOTONCHANNEL
RPL_NOTOPIC RPL_TOPIC
ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED
Examples:
:Wiz TOPIC #test :New topic ;User Wiz setting the topic.
TOPIC #test :another topic ;set the topic on #test to "another
topic".
TOPIC #test ; check the topic for #test.
4.2.5 Names message
Command: NAMES
Parameters: [<channel>{,<channel>}]
By using the NAMES command, a user can list all nicknames that are
visible to them on any channel that they can see. Channel names
which they can see are those which aren't private (+p) or secret (+s)
or those which they are actually on. The <channel> parameter
specifies which channel(s) to return information about if valid.
There is no error reply for bad channel names.
If no <channel> parameter is given, a list of all channels and their
occupants is returned. At the end of this list, a list of users who
are visible but either not on any channel or not on a visible channel
are listed as being on `channel' "*".
Numerics:
RPL_NAMREPLY RPL_ENDOFNAMES
Examples:
NAMES #twilight_zone,#42 ; list visible users on #twilight_zone
and #42 if the channels are visible to
you.
NAMES ; list all visible channels and users
4.2.6 List message
Command: LIST
Parameters: [<channel>{,<channel>} [<server>]]
The list message is used to list channels and their topics. If the
<channel> parameter is used, only the status of that channel
is displayed. Private channels are listed (without their
topics) as channel "Prv" unless the client generating the query is
actually on that channel. Likewise, secret channels are not listed
at all unless the client is a member of the channel in question.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER RPL_LISTSTART
RPL_LIST RPL_LISTEND
Examples:
LIST ; List all channels.
LIST #twilight_zone,#42 ; List channels #twilight_zone and #42
4.2.7 Invite message
Command: INVITE
Parameters: <nickname> <channel>
The INVITE message is used to invite users to a channel. The
parameter <nickname> is the nickname of the person to be invited to
the target channel <channel>. There is no requirement that the
channel the target user is being invited to must exist or be a valid
channel. To invite a user to a channel which is invite only (MODE
+i), the client sending the invite must be recognised as being a
channel operator on the given channel.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_NOSUCHNICK
ERR_NOTONCHANNEL ERR_USERONCHANNEL
ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED
RPL_INVITING RPL_AWAY
Examples:
:Angel INVITE Wiz #Dust ; User Angel inviting WiZ to channel
#Dust
INVITE Wiz #Twilight_Zone ; Command to invite WiZ to
#Twilight_zone
4.2.8 Kick command
Command: KICK
Parameters: <channel> <user> [<comment>]
The KICK command can be used to forcibly remove a user from a
channel. It 'kicks them out' of the channel (forced PART).
Only a channel operator may kick another user out of a channel.
Each server that receives a KICK message checks that it is valid
(ie the sender is actually a channel operator) before removing
the victim from the channel.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_NOSUCHCHANNEL
ERR_BADCHANMASK ERR_CHANOPRIVSNEEDED
ERR_NOTONCHANNEL
Examples:
KICK &Melbourne Matthew ; Kick Matthew from &Melbourne
KICK #Finnish John :Speaking English
; Kick John from #Finnish using
"Speaking English" as the reason
(comment).
:WiZ KICK #Finnish John ; KICK message from WiZ to remove John
from channel #Finnish
NOTE:
It is possible to extend the KICK command parameters to the
following:
<channel>{,<channel>} <user>{,<user>} [<comment>]
4.3 Server queries and commands
The server query group of commands has been designed to return
information about any server which is connected to the network. All
servers connected must respond to these queries and respond
correctly. Any invalid response (or lack thereof) must be considered
a sign of a broken server and it must be disconnected/disabled as
soon as possible until the situation is remedied.
In these queries, where a parameter appears as "<server>", it will
usually mean it can be a nickname or a server or a wildcard name of
some sort. For each parameter, however, only one query and set of
replies is to be generated.
4.3.1 Version message
Command: VERSION
Parameters: [<server>]
The VERSION message is used to query the version of the server
program. An optional parameter <server> is used to query the version
of the server program which a client is not directly connected to.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER RPL_VERSION
Examples:
:Wiz VERSION *.se ; message from Wiz to check the version
of a server matching "*.se"
VERSION tolsun.oulu.fi ; check the version of server
"tolsun.oulu.fi".
4.3.2 Stats message
Command: STATS
Parameters: [<query> [<server>]]
The stats message is used to query statistics of certain server. If
<server> parameter is omitted, only the end of stats reply is sent
back. The implementation of this command is highly dependent on the
server which replies, although the server must be able to supply
information as described by the queries below (or similar).
A query may be given by any single letter which is only checked by
the destination server (if given as the <server> parameter) and is
otherwise passed on by intermediate servers, ignored and unaltered.
The following queries are those found in the current IRC
implementation and provide a large portion of the setup information
for that server. Although these may not be supported in the same way
by other versions, all servers should be able to supply a valid reply
to a STATS query which is consistent with the reply formats currently
used and the purpose of the query.
The currently supported queries are:
c - returns a list of servers which the server may connect
to or allow connections from;
h - returns a list of servers which are either forced to be
treated as leaves or allowed to act as hubs;
i - returns a list of hosts which the server allows a client
to connect from;
k - returns a list of banned username/hostname combinations
for that server;
l - returns a list of the server's connections, showing how
long each connection has been established and the traffic
over that connection in bytes and messages for each
direction;
m - returns a list of commands supported by the server and
the usage count for each if the usage count is non zero;
o - returns a list of hosts from which normal clients may
become operators;
y - show Y (Class) lines from server's configuration file;
u - returns a string showing how long the server has been up.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
RPL_STATSCLINE RPL_STATSNLINE
RPL_STATSILINE RPL_STATSKLINE
RPL_STATSQLINE RPL_STATSLLINE
RPL_STATSLINKINFO RPL_STATSUPTIME
RPL_STATSCOMMANDS RPL_STATSOLINE
RPL_STATSHLINE RPL_ENDOFSTATS
Examples:
STATS m ; check the command usage for the server
you are connected to
:Wiz STATS c eff.org ; request by WiZ for C/N line
information from server eff.org
4.3.3 Links message
Command: LINKS
Parameters: [[<remote server>] <server mask>]
With LINKS, a user can list all servers which are known by the server
answering the query. The returned list of servers must match the
mask, or if no mask is given, the full list is returned.
If <remote server> is given in addition to <server mask>, the LINKS
command is forwarded to the first server found that matches that name
(if any), and that server is then required to answer the query.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
RPL_LINKS RPL_ENDOFLINKS
Examples:
LINKS *.au ; list all servers which have a name
that matches *.au;
:WiZ LINKS *.bu.edu *.edu ; LINKS message from WiZ to the first
server matching *.edu for a list of
servers matching *.bu.edu.
4.3.4 Time message
Command: TIME
Parameters: [<server>]
The time message is used to query local time from the specified
server. If the server parameter is not given, the server handling the
command must reply to the query.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER RPL_TIME
Examples:
TIME tolsun.oulu.fi ; check the time on the server
"tolson.oulu.fi"
Angel TIME *.au ; user angel checking the time on a
server matching "*.au"
4.3.5 Connect message
Command: CONNECT
Parameters: <target server> [<port> [<remote server>]]
The CONNECT command can be used to force a server to try to establish
a new connection to another server immediately. CONNECT is a
privileged command and is to be available only to IRC Operators. If
a remote server is given then the CONNECT attempt is made by that
server to <target server> and <port>.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER ERR_NOPRIVILEGES
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS
Examples:
CONNECT tolsun.oulu.fi ; Attempt to connect a server to
tolsun.oulu.fi
:WiZ CONNECT eff.org 6667 csd.bu.edu
; CONNECT attempt by WiZ to get servers
eff.org and csd.bu.edu connected on port
6667.
4.3.6 Trace message
Command: TRACE
Parameters: [<server>]
TRACE command is used to find the route to specific server. Each
server that processes this message must tell the sender about it by
sending a reply indicating it is a pass-through link, forming a chain
of replies similar to that gained from using "traceroute". After
sending this reply back, it must then send the TRACE message to the
next server until given server is reached. If the <server> parameter
is omitted, it is recommended that TRACE command send a message to
the sender telling which servers the current server has direct
connection to.
If the destination given by "<server>" is an actual server, then the
destination server is required to report all servers and users which
are connected to it, although only operators are permitted to see
users present. If the destination given by <server> is a nickname,
they only a reply for that nickname is given.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
If the TRACE message is destined for another server, all intermediate
servers must return a RPL_TRACELINK reply to indicate that the TRACE
passed through it and where its going next.
RPL_TRACELINK
A TRACE reply may be composed of any number of the following numeric
replies.
RPL_TRACECONNECTING RPL_TRACEHANDSHAKE
RPL_TRACEUNKNOWN RPL_TRACEOPERATOR
RPL_TRACEUSER RPL_TRACESERVER
RPL_TRACESERVICE RPL_TRACENEWTYPE
RPL_TRACECLASS
Examples:
TRACE *.oulu.fi ; TRACE to a server matching *.oulu.fi
:WiZ TRACE AngelDust ; TRACE issued by WiZ to nick AngelDust 4.3.7 Admin command Command: ADMIN Parameters: [<server>] The admin message is used to find the name of the administrator of the given server, or current server if <server> parameter is omitted. Each server must have the ability to forward ADMIN messages to other servers. Numeric Replies: ERR_NOSUCHSERVER RPL_ADMINME RPL_ADMINLOC1 RPL_ADMINLOC2 RPL_ADMINEMAIL Examples: ADMIN tolsun.oulu.fi ; request an ADMIN reply from tolsun.oulu.fi :WiZ ADMIN *.edu ; ADMIN request from WiZ for first server found to match *.edu. 4.3.8 Info command Command: INFO Parameters: [<server>] The INFO command is required to return information which describes the server: its version, when it was compiled, the patchlevel, when it was started, and any other miscellaneous information which may be considered to be relevant. Numeric Replies: ERR_NOSUCHSERVER RPL_INFO RPL_ENDOFINFO Examples: INFO csd.bu.edu ; request an INFO reply from csd.bu.edu :Avalon INFO *.fi ; INFO request from Avalon for first server found to match *.fi.
INFO Angel ; request info from the server that
Angel is connected to.
4.4 Sending messages
The main purpose of the IRC protocol is to provide a base for clients
to communicate with each other. PRIVMSG and NOTICE are the only
messages available which actually perform delivery of a text message
from one client to another - the rest just make it possible and try
to ensure it happens in a reliable and structured manner.
4.4.1 Private messages
Command: PRIVMSG
Parameters: <receiver>{,<receiver>} <text to be sent>
PRIVMSG is used to send private messages between users. <receiver>
is the nickname of the receiver of the message. <receiver> can also
be a list of names or channels separated with commas.
The <receiver> parameter may also me a host mask (#mask) or server
mask ($mask). In both cases the server will only send the PRIVMSG
to those who have a server or host matching the mask. The mask must
have at least 1 (one) "." in it and no wildcards following the
last ".". This requirement exists to prevent people sending messages
to "#*" or "$*", which would broadcast to all users; from
experience, this is abused more than used responsibly and properly.
Wildcards are the '*' and '?' characters. This extension to
the PRIVMSG command is only available to Operators.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NORECIPIENT ERR_NOTEXTTOSEND
ERR_CANNOTSENDTOCHAN ERR_NOTOPLEVEL
ERR_WILDTOPLEVEL ERR_TOOMANYTARGETS
ERR_NOSUCHNICK
RPL_AWAY
Examples:
:Angel PRIVMSG Wiz :Hello are you receiving this message ?
; Message from Angel to Wiz.
PRIVMSG Angel :yes I'm receiving it !receiving it !'u>(768u+1n) .br ;
Message to Angel.
PRIVMSG jto@tolsun.oulu.fi :Hello !
; Message to a client on server
tolsun.oulu.fi with username of "jto".
PRIVMSG $*.fi :Server tolsun.oulu.fi rebooting.
; Message to everyone on a server which
has a name matching *.fi.
PRIVMSG #*.edu :NSFNet is undergoing work, expect interruptions
; Message to all users who come from a
host which has a name matching *.edu.
4.4.2 Notice
Command: NOTICE
Parameters: <nickname> <text>
The NOTICE message is used similarly to PRIVMSG. The difference
between NOTICE and PRIVMSG is that automatic replies must never be
sent in response to a NOTICE message. This rule applies to servers
too - they must not send any error reply back to the client on
receipt of a notice. The object of this rule is to avoid loops
between a client automatically sending something in response to
something it received. This is typically used by automatons (clients
with either an AI or other interactive program controlling their
actions) which are always seen to be replying lest they end up in a
loop with another automaton.
See PRIVMSG for more details on replies and examples.
4.5 User based queries
User queries are a group of commands which are primarily concerned
with finding details on a particular user or group users. When using
wildcards with any of these commands, if they match, they will only
return information on users who are 'visible' to you. The visibility
of a user is determined as a combination of the user's mode and the
common set of channels you are both on.
4.5.1 Who query
Command: WHO
Parameters: [<name> [<o>]]
The WHO message is used by a client to generate a query which returns
a list of information which 'matches' the <name> parameter given by
the client. In the absence of the <name> parameter, all visible
(users who aren't invisible (user mode +i) and who don't have a
common channel with the requesting client) are listed. The same
result can be achieved by using a <name> of "0" or any wildcard which
will end up matching every entry possible.
The <name> passed to WHO is matched against users' host, server, real
name and nickname if the channel <name> cannot be found.
If the "o" parameter is passed only operators are returned according
to the name mask supplied.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
RPL_WHOREPLY RPL_ENDOFWHO
Examples:
WHO *.fi ; List all users who match against
"*.fi".
WHO jto* o ; List all users with a match against
"jto*" if they are an operator.
4.5.2 Whois query
Command: WHOIS
Parameters: [<server>] <nickmask>[,<nickmask>[,...]]
This message is used to query information about particular user. The
server will answer this message with several numeric messages
indicating different statuses of each user which matches the nickmask
(if you are entitled to see them). If no wildcard is present in the
<nickmask>, any information about that nick which you are allowed to
see is presented. A comma (',') separated list of nicknames may be
given.
The latter version sends the query to a specific server. It is
useful if you want to know how long the user in question has been
idle as only local server (ie. the server the user is directly
connected to) knows that information, while everything else is
globally known.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER ERR_NONICKNAMEGIVEN
RPL_WHOISUSER RPL_WHOISCHANNELS
RPL_WHOISCHANNELS RPL_WHOISSERVER
RPL_AWAY RPL_WHOISOPERATOR
RPL_WHOISIDLE ERR_NOSUCHNICK
RPL_ENDOFWHOIS
Examples:
WHOIS wiz ; return available user information
about nick WiZ
WHOIS eff.org trillian ; ask server eff.org for user
information about trillian
4.5.3 Whowas
Command: WHOWAS
Parameters: <nickname> [<count> [<server>]]
Whowas asks for information about a nickname which no longer exists.
This may either be due to a nickname change or the user leaving IRC.
In response to this query, the server searches through its nickname
history, looking for any nicks which are lexically the same (no wild
card matching here). The history is searched backward, returning the
most recent entry first. If there are multiple entries, up to
<count> replies will be returned (or all of them if no <count>
parameter is given). If a non-positive number is passed as being
<count>, then a full search is done.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NONICKNAMEGIVEN ERR_WASNOSUCHNICK
RPL_WHOWASUSER RPL_WHOISSERVER
RPL_ENDOFWHOWAS
Examples:
WHOWAS Wiz ; return all information in the nick
history about nick "WiZ";
WHOWAS Mermaid 9 ; return at most, the 9 most recent
entries in the nick history for
"Mermaid";
WHOWAS Trillian 1 *.edu ; return the most recent history for
"Trillian" from the first server found
to match "*.edu".
4.6 Miscellaneous messages
Messages in this category do not fit into any of the above categories
but are nonetheless still a part of and required by the protocol.
4.6.1 Kill message Command: KILL Parameters: <nickname> <comment> The KILL message is used to cause a client-server connection to be closed by the server which has the actual connection. KILL is used by servers when they encounter a duplicate entry in the list of valid nicknames and is used to remove both entries. It is also available to operators. Clients which have automatic reconnect algorithms effectively make this command useless since the disconnection is only brief. It does however break the flow of data and can be used to stop large amounts of being abused, any user may elect to receive KILL messages generated for others to keep an 'eye' on would be trouble spots. In an arena where nicknames are required to be globally unique at all times, KILL messages are sent whenever 'duplicates' are detected (that is an attempt to register two users with the same nickname) in the hope that both of them will disappear and only 1 reappear. The comment given must reflect the actual reason for the KILL. For server-generated KILLs it usually is made up of details concerning the origins of the two conflicting nicknames. For users it is left up to them to provide an adequate reason to satisfy others who see it. To prevent/discourage fake KILLs from being generated to hide the identify of the KILLer, the comment also shows a 'kill-path' which is updated by each server it passes through, each prepending its name to the path. Numeric Replies: ERR_NOPRIVILEGES ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS ERR_NOSUCHNICK ERR_CANTKILLSERVER KILL David (csd.bu.edu <- tolsun.oulu.fi) ; Nickname collision between csd.bu.edu and tolson.oulu.fi NOTE: It is recommended that only Operators be allowed to kill other users with KILL message. In an ideal world not even operators would need to do this and it would be left to servers to deal with.
4.6.2 Ping message Command: PING Parameters: <server1> [<server2>] The PING message is used to test the presence of an active client at the other end of the connection. A PING message is sent at regular intervals if no other activity detected coming from a connection. If a connection fails to respond to a PING command within a set amount of time, that connection is closed. Any client which receives a PING message must respond to <server1> (server which sent the PING message out) as quickly as possible with an appropriate PONG message to indicate it is still there and alive. Servers should not respond to PING commands but rely on PINGs from the other end of the connection to indicate the connection is alive. If the <server2> parameter is specified, the PING message gets forwarded there. Numeric Replies: ERR_NOORIGIN ERR_NOSUCHSERVER Examples: PING tolsun.oulu.fi ; server sending a PING message to another server to indicate it is still alive. PING WiZ ; PING message being sent to nick WiZ 4.6.3 Pong message Command: PONG Parameters: <daemon> [<daemon2>] PONG message is a reply to ping message. If parameter <daemon2> is given this message must be forwarded to given daemon. The <daemon> parameter is the name of the daemon who has responded to PING message and generated this message. Numeric Replies: ERR_NOORIGIN ERR_NOSUCHSERVER Examples: PONG csd.bu.edu tolsun.oulu.fi ; PONG message from csd.bu.edu to
tolsun.oulu.fi
4.6.4 Error
Command: ERROR
Parameters: <error message>
The ERROR command is for use by servers when reporting a serious or
fatal error to its operators. It may also be sent from one server to
another but must not be accepted from any normal unknown clients.
An ERROR message is for use for reporting errors which occur with a
server-to-server link only. An ERROR message is sent to the server
at the other end (which sends it to all of its connected operators)
and to all operators currently connected. It is not to be passed
onto any other servers by a server if it is received from a server.
When a server sends a received ERROR message to its operators, the
message should be encapsulated inside a NOTICE message, indicating
that the client was not responsible for the error.
Numerics:
None.
Examples:
ERROR :Server *.fi already exists; ERROR message to the other server
which caused this error.
NOTICE WiZ :ERROR from csd.bu.edu -- Server *.fi already exists
; Same ERROR message as above but sent
to user WiZ on the other server.
5. OPTIONALS
This section describes OPTIONAL messages. They are not required in a
working server implementation of the protocol described herein. In
the absence of the option, an error reply message must be generated
or an unknown command error. If the message is destined for another
server to answer then it must be passed on (elementary parsing
required) The allocated numerics for this are listed with the
messages below.
5.1 Away
Command: AWAY
Parameters: [message]
With the AWAY message, clients can set an automatic reply string for
any PRIVMSG commands directed at them (not to a channel they are on).
The automatic reply is sent by the server to client sending the
PRIVMSG command. The only replying server is the one to which the
sending client is connected to.
The AWAY message is used either with one parameter (to set an AWAY
message) or with no parameters (to remove the AWAY message).
Numeric Replies:
RPL_UNAWAY RPL_NOWAWAY
Examples:
AWAY :Gone to lunch. Back in 5 ; set away message to "Gone to lunch.
Back in 5".
:WiZ AWAY ; unmark WiZ as being away.
5.2 Rehash message
Command: REHASH
Parameters: None
The rehash message can be used by the operator to force the server to
re-read and process its configuration file.
Numeric Replies:
RPL_REHASHING ERR_NOPRIVILEGES
Examples:
REHASH ; message from client with operator
status to server asking it to reread its
configuration file.
5.3 Restart message
Command: RESTART
Parameters: None
The restart message can only be used by an operator to force a server
restart itself. This message is optional since it may be viewed as a
risk to allow arbitrary people to connect to a server as an operator
and execute this command, causing (at least) a disruption to service.
The RESTART command must always be fully processed by the server to
which the sending client is connected and not be passed onto other
connected servers.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOPRIVILEGES
Examples:
RESTART ; no parameters required.
5.4 Summon message
Command: SUMMON
Parameters: <user> [<server>]
The SUMMON command can be used to give users who are on a host
running an IRC server a message asking them to please join IRC. This
message is only sent if the target server (a) has SUMMON enabled, (b)
the user is logged in and (c) the server process can write to the
user's tty (or similar).
If no <server> parameter is given it tries to summon <user> from the
server the client is connected to is assumed as the target.
If summon is not enabled in a server, it must return the
ERR_SUMMONDISABLED numeric and pass the summon message onwards.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NORECIPIENT ERR_FILEERROR
ERR_NOLOGIN ERR_NOSUCHSERVER
RPL_SUMMONING
Examples:
SUMMON jto ; summon user jto on the server's host
SUMMON jto tolsun.oulu.fi ; summon user jto on the host which a
server named "tolsun.oulu.fi" is
running.
5.5 Users
Command: USERS
Parameters: [<server>]
The USERS command returns a list of users logged into the server in a
similar format to who(1), rusers(1) and finger(1). Some people
may disable this command on their server for security related
reasons. If disabled, the correct numeric must be returned to
indicate this.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NOSUCHSERVER ERR_FILEERROR
RPL_USERSSTART RPL_USERS
RPL_NOUSERS RPL_ENDOFUSERS
ERR_USERSDISABLED
Disabled Reply:
ERR_USERSDISABLED
Examples:
USERS eff.org ; request a list of users logged in on
server eff.org
:John USERS tolsun.oulu.fi ; request from John for a list of users
logged in on server tolsun.oulu.fi
5.6 Operwall message
Command: WALLOPS
Parameters: Text to be sent to all operators currently online
Sends a message to all operators currently online. After
implementing WALLOPS as a user command it was found that it was
often and commonly abused as a means of sending a message to a lot
of people (much similar to WALL). Due to this it is recommended
that the current implementation of WALLOPS be used as an
example by allowing and recognising only servers as the senders of
WALLOPS.
Numeric Replies:
ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS
Examples:
:csd.bu.edu WALLOPS :Connect '*.uiuc.edu 6667' from Joshua; WALLOPS
message from csd.bu.edu announcing a
CONNECT message it received and acted
upon from Joshua.
5.7 Userhost message Command: USERHOST Parameters: <nickname>{<space><nickname>} The USERHOST command takes a list of up to 5 nicknames, each separated by a space character and returns a list of information about each nickname that it found. The returned list has each reply separated by a space. Numeric Replies: RPL_USERHOST ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS Examples: USERHOST Wiz Michael Marty p ;USERHOST request for information on nicks "Wiz", "Michael", "Marty" and "p" 5.8 Ison message Command: ISON Parameters: <nickname>{<space><nickname>} The ISON command was implemented to provide a quick and efficient means to get a response about whether a given nickname was currently on IRC. ISON only takes one (1) parameter: a space-separated list of nicks. For each nickname in the list that is present, the server adds that to its reply string. Thus the reply string may return empty (none of the given nicks are present), an exact copy of the parameter string (all of them present) or as any other subset of the set of nicks given in the parameter. The only limit on the number of nicks that may be checked is that the combined length must not be too large as to cause the server to chop it off so it fits in 512 characters. ISON is only be processed by the server local to the client sending the command and thus not passed onto other servers for further processing. Numeric Replies: RPL_ISON ERR_NEEDMOREPARAMS Examples: ISON phone trillian WiZ jarlek Avalon Angel Monstah ; Sample ISON request for 7 nicks.
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