example "HELP quit" or "HELP privmsg".
-General Commands
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-- AWAY
+Connection Handling Commands
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- CAP
+ CAP LS
+ CAP LIST
+ CAP REQ <capabilities>
+ CAP ACK <capabilities>
+ CAP NAK <capabilities>
+ CAP CLEAR
+ CAP END
+ .
+ List, request, and clear "IRC Capabilities".
+ .
+ Using this command, an IRC client can request additional "IRC
+ capabilities" during login or later on, which influences the
+ communication between server and client. Normally, these commands
+ aren't directly used by humans, but automatically by their client
+ software. And please note that issuing such commands manually can
+ irritate the client software used, because of the "non-standard"
+ behavior of the server!
+ .
+ - CAP LS: list all available capabilities.
+ - CAP LIST: list active capabilities of this connection.
+ - CAP REQ: Request particular capabilities.
+ - CAP ACK: Acknowledge a set of capabilities to be enabled/disabled.
+ - CAP NAK: Reject a set of capabilities.
+ - CAP CLEAR: Clear all set capabilities.
+ - CAP END: Indicate end of capability negotiation during login,
+ ignored in an fully registered session.
+
+ Please note that the <capabilities> must be given in a single
+ parameter but whitespace separated, therefore a command could look
+ like this: "CAP REQ :capability1 capability2 capability3" for example.
+
+ References:
+ - <http://ircv3.atheme.org/specification/capability-negotiation-3.1>
+ - <http://ngircd.barton.de/doc/Capabilities.txt>
+ - doc/Capabilities.txt
- CHARCONV
+ CHARCONV <client-charset>
+ .
+ Set client character set encoding to <client-charset>.
+ .
+ After receiving such a command, the server translates all message
+ data received from the client using the set <client-charset> to the
+ server encoding (UTF-8), and all message data which is to be sent to
+ the client from the server encoding (UTF-8) to <client-charset>.
+ .
+ This enables older clients and clients using "strange" character sets
+ to transparently participate in channels and direct messages to
+ clients using UTF-8, which should be the default today.
+
+ References:
+ - <http://ngircd.barton.de/doc/Protocol.txt>
+ - doc/Protocol.txt
+
+- NICK
+ NICK <nick>
+ .
+ Change your nickname to <nick>.
+
+- PASS
+ PASS <password> <version> <flags> [<options>]
+ .
+ Set a connection <password>. This command must be sent before the
+ NICK/USER registration combination.
+ .
+ See doc/Protocol.txt for more info.
+
+- PING
+ PING <server1> [<server2>]
+ .
+ Tests the presence of a connection. A PING message results in a PONG
+ reply. If <server2> is specified, the message gets passed on to it.
+
+- PONG
+ PONG <server1> [<server2>]
+ .
+ This command is a reply to the PING command and works in much the
+ same way.
+
+- QUIT
+ QUIT [<quit-message>]
+ .
+ End IRC session and disconnect from the server.
+ .
+ If a <quit-message> has been given, it is displayed to all the
+ channels that you are a member of when leaving.
+
+- USER
+ USER <user> <modes> <realname>
+ .
+ This command is used at the beginning of a connection to specify the
+ <user>name, hostname, <realname> and initial user <modes> of the
+ connecting client.
+ .
+ <realname> may contain spaces, and thus must be prefixed with a colon.
+
+- WEBIRC
+ See doc/Protocol.txt
+
+
+General Commands
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+- AWAY
+ AWAY [<message>]
+ .
+ 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.
+ .
+ If <message> is omitted, the away status is removed.
- HELP
HELP [<command>]
- MODE
-
-- NICK
+ MODE <nickname> <flags> (user)
+ MODE <channel> <flags> [<args>]
+ .
+ The MODE command is dual-purpose. It can be used to set both (user) and
+ <channel> modes.
+ .
+ See doc/Modes.txt for more information.
- NOTICE
-
-- PASS
-
-- PING
-
-- PONG
+ NOTICE <target> <notice>
+ .
+ Send <notice> to <target> (nick or channel).
+ .
+ This command works similarly to PRIVMSG, except automatic replies must
+ never be sent in reply to NOTICE messages.
- PRIVMSG
-
-- QUIT
- QUIT [<quit-message>]
+ PRIVMSG <target> <message>
.
- End IRC session and disconnect from the server.
+ Send <message> to <target> (nick or channel).
.
- If a <quit-message> has been given, it is displayed to all the
- channels that you are a member of when leaving.
-
-- USER
-
-- WALLOPS
-
-- WEBIRC
+ Common IRC clients use MSG as PRIVMSG alias.
+ (Some clients use "QUERY <nick> [<message>]" to open a private chat.)
Status and Informational Commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+- ADMIN
+ ADMIN [<target>]
+ .
+ Show administrative information about an IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.9 "Admin command"
+
- INFO
+ INFO [<target>]
+ .
+ Show the version, birth & online time of an IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.10 "Info command"
- ISON
+ ISON <nickname> [<nickname> [...]]
+ .
+ Query online status of a list of nicknames. The server replies with
+ a list only containing nicknes actually connected to a server in
+ the network. If no nicknames of the given list are online, an empty
+ list is returned to the client requesting the information.
+
+ Please note that "all" IRC daemons even parse separate nicknames in
+ a single parameter (like ":nick1 nick2"), and therefore ngIRCd
+ implements this behaviour, too.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 4.9 "Ison message"
- LINKS
+ LINKS [[<target>] [<mask>]
+ .
+ List all servers currently registered in the network matching <mask>,
+ or all servers if <mask> has been omitted, as seen by the server
+ specified by <target> or the local server when <target> is omitted.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.5 "Links message"
- LUSERS
+ LUSERS [<mask> [<target>]]
+ .
+ Return statistics about the number of clients (users, servers,
+ services, ...) in the network as seen by the server <target>.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
-- METADATA
+ Please note that ngIRCd ignores the <mask> parameter entirely: it
+ is not possible to get information for a part of the network only.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.2 "Lusers message"
- MOTD
+ MOTD [<target>]
+ .
+ Show the "Message of the Day" (MOTD) of an IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.1 "Motd message"
- NAMES
+ NAMES [<channel>[,<channel>[,...]] [<target>]]
+ .
+ Show the list of users that are members of a particular <channel>
+ (and that are visible for the client requesting this information) as
+ seen by the server <target>. More than one <channel> can be given
+ separated by "," (but not whitespaces!).
+ .
+ If <channel> has been omitted, all visible users are shown, grouped
+ by channel name, and all visible users not being members of at least
+ one channel are shown as members of the pseudo channel "*".
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.2.5 "Names message"
- STATS
+ STATS [<query> [<target>]]
+ .
+ Show statistics and other information of type <query> of a particular
+ IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ The following <query> types are supported (case-insensitive):
+ .
+ - g Network-wide bans ("G-Lines").
+ - k Server-local bans ("K-Lines").
+ - l Link status (parent server and own link only).
+ - m Command usage count.
+ - u Server uptime.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.4 "Stats message"
- TIME
+ TIME [<target>]
+ .
+ Show the local time of an IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.6 "Time message"
- TRACE
+ TRACE [<server>]
+ .
+ Trace a path across the IRC network of the current server, or if given
+ of a specific <server>, in a similar method to traceroute.
- USERHOST
+ USERHOST <nickname> [<nickname> [...]]
+ .
+ Show flags and the hostmasks (<user>@<host>) of the <nickname>s,
+ seperated by spaces. The following flags are used:
+ .
+ - "-" The client is "away" (the mode "+a" is set on this client).
+ - "+" Client seems to be available, at least it isn't marked "away".
+ - "*" The client is an IRC operator (the mode "+o" is set).
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 4.8 "Userhost message"
- VERSION
+ VERSION [<target>]
+ .
+ Show version information about a particular IRC server in the network.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to
+ a specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network.
+ The server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+ .
+ Please note: in normal operation, the version number ends in a dot
+ (".", for example "ngIRCd-20.1."). If it ends in ".1" (for example
+ "ngIRCd-20.1.1", same version than before!), the server is running in
+ debug-mode; and if it ends in ".2", the "network sniffer" is active!
+ Keep your privacy in mind ...
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.4.3 "Version message"
- WHO
+ WHO [<mask> ["o"]]
+ .
+ Show a list of users who match the <mask>, or all visible users when
+ the <mask> has been omitted. (Special case: the <mask> "0" is
+ equivalent to "*")
+ .
+ If the flag "o" is given, the server will only return information about
+ IRC Operators.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.6.1 "Who query"
- WHOIS
+ WHOIS [<target>] <mask>[,<mask>[,...]]
+ .
+ Query information about users matching the <mask> parameter(s) as seen
+ by the server <target>; up to 3 <masks> are supported.
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to a
+ specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network. The
+ server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.6.2 "Whois query"
- WHOWAS
+ WHOWAS <nickname>[,<nickname>[,...]] [<count> [<target>]]
+ .
+ Query information about nicknames no longer in use in the network,
+ either because of nickname changes or disconnects. The history is
+ searched backwards, returning the most recent entry first. If there
+ are multiple entries, up to <count> entries will be shown (or all of
+ them, if no <count> has been given).
+ .
+ <target> can be a server name, the nickname of a client connected to a
+ specific server, or a mask matching a server name in the network. The
+ server of the current connecion is used when <target> is omitted.
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.6.3 "Whowas"
Channel Commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- INVITE
+ INVITE <nick> <channel>
+ .
+ Invites <nick> to <channel>.
+ <channel> does not have to exist, but if it does, only members of the
+ channel are allowed to invite other clients.
+ .
+ If the <channel> mode "+i" is set, only <channel> operators may invite
+ other clients.
- JOIN
+ JOIN <channels> [<channel-keys>]
+ .
+ Makes the client join the <channels> (comma-separated list), specifying
+ the passwords, if needed, in the comma-separated <channel-keys> list.
+ A <channel-key> is only needed, if the <channel> mode "+k" is set.
+ .
+ If the channel(s) do not exist, then they will be created.
- KICK
+ KICK <channel> <nick> [<kick-message>]
+ .
+ Remove <nick> from <channel>, optional with a <kick-message>.
+ .
+ Only <channel> operators are able to KICK.
- LIST
+ LIST [<channels> [<server>]]
+ .
+ List all visible <channels> (comma-seperated list) on the current
+ server.
+ If <server> is given, the command will be forwarded to <server> for
+ evaluation.
- PART
+ PART <channels> [<part-message>]
+ .
+ Leave <channels> (comma-separated list), optional with a
+ <part-message>.
- TOPIC
+ TOPIC <channel> <topic>
+ .
+ Set a <topic> for <channel>.
+ .
+ Only <channel> operators are able to set a <topic>.
Administrative Commands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- ADMIN
- ADMIN [<server>]
- .
- Show administartive information about an IRC server in the network.
- If no server name has been given, the local server will respond.
-
- CONNECT
+ CONNECT <target server> [<port> [<remote server> [<mypwd> <peerpwd>]]]
+ .
+ Instructs the current server, or <remote server> if specified,
+ to connect to <target server>.
+ .
+ To connect <remote server> you need to have remote oper status.
+ If <port> is omitted, it uses the server port of the configuration.
+ If <mypwd> and <peerpwd> is given, it uses those passwords instead
+ of the ones in the configuration.
- DIE
+ DIE
+ .
+ Instructs the server to shut down.
- DISCONNECT
+ DISCONNECT [<remote server>]
+ .
+ Disconnects the current server, or <remote server> if specified.
+ To disconnect a <remote server> you need to have remote oper status.
- GLINE
+ GLINE <nick!user@hostmask> <seconds> :<reason>
+ .
+ This command provides timed G-Lines (Network-wide bans).
+ If a client matches a G-Line, it cannot connect to any server on
+ the IRC network. If you put 0 as <seconds>, it makes the G-Line
+ permanent.
+ .
+ To remove a G-Line, type "GLINE <nick!user@hostmask>".
+ To list the G-Lines, type "STATS g".
- KILL
+ KILL <nick> <reason>
+ .
+ Forcibly removes <nick> from the IRC network with a <reason>.
- KLINE
+ KLINE <nick!user@hostmask> <seconds> :<reason>
+ .
+ This command provides timed K-Lines (Server-local bans).
+ If a client matches a K-Line, it cannot connect to the issued server.
+ If you put 0 as <seconds>, it makes the K-Line permanent.
+ .
+ To remove a K-Line, type "KLINE <nick!user@hostmask>".
+ To list the K-Lines, type "STATS k".
- OPER
+ OPER <user> <password>
+ .
+ Authenticates <user> as an IRC operator on the current server/network.
- REHASH
+ REHASH
+ .
+ Causes the server to re-read and re-process its configuration file(s).
- RESTART
+ RESTART
+ .
+ Restart the server.
+
+- WALLOPS
+ WALLOPS <message>
+ .
+ Sends <message> to all users with user mode "+w".
IRC Service Commands
- SERVICE
- SERVLIST
+ SERVLIST [<mask> [<type>]]
+ .
+ List all IRC services currently registered in the network.
+ .
+ The optional <mask> and <type> parameters can be used to limit the
+ listing to services matching the <mask> and that are of type <type>.
+ .
+ Please note that ngIRCd doesn't use any service types at the moment
+ and therefore all services are of type "0".
+
+ References:
+ - RFC 2812, 3.5.1 "Servlist message"
- SQUERY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- CHANINFO
+ CHANINFO <channel> +<modes> [[<key> <limit>] <topic>]
+ .
+ CHANINFO is used by servers to inform each other about a channel:
+ its modes, channel key, user limits and its topic.
+ .
+ See doc/Protocol.txt for more information.
- ERROR
ERROR [<message> [<> [...]]]
.
This command is silently ignored on non-server and non-service links.
+- METADATA
+ METADATA <target> <key> <value>
+ .
+ The METADATA command is used on server-links to update "metadata"
+ information of clients, like the hostname, the info text ("real name"),
+ or the user name.
+ .
+ See doc/Protocol.txt for more information.
+
- NJOIN
- SERVER
- SQUIT
+ SQUIT <server>
+ .
+ Disconnects an IRC Server from the network.
Dummy Commands