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Online chat



 
  Online chat can refer to any kind of communication
Communication

Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs...",, 1: an act or instance of transmitting and 3 a: "a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or beha...
 over the Internet
Internet

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers, enabling users to share information along multiple channels. Typically, a computer that connects to the Internet can access information from a vast array of available server and other computers by moving information from them to the computer's local memory....
, but is primarily meant to refer to direct one-on-one chat or text-based
Text-based

Usually used in reference to a computer application, especially a computer game, a text-based application software is one whose primary input and output are based on character rather than graphics....
 group chat
Chat room

The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by mass media to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing....
 (formally also known as synchronous conferencing
Synchronous conferencing

Synchronous conferencing is the formal term used in science, in particular in computer-mediated communication, Computer-supported collaboration and Web-based training, to describe online chat technologies....
), using tools such as instant messengers, Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat is a form of real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for Many-to-many in discussion forums, called #Channels, but also allows One-to-one via instant messaging, as well as chat and data transfers via Direct Client-to-Client....
, talker
Talker

Talkers are chat systems that people use to talk to each other over the Internet. Dating back to the 1980s, they were a predecessor of instant messaging....
s and possibly MUD
MUD

In Online game, a MUD , pronounced /m?d/, is a multi-user real-time virtual world described entirely in text. It combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, interactive fiction, and online chat....
s. The expression online chat comes from the word chat which means "informal conversation".

Chatiquette

The term chatiquette is a variation of netiquette
Netiquette

Netiquette, a Portmanteau word of "computer network etiquette", is a set of social conventions that facilitate interaction over networks, ranging from Usenet and mailing lists to blogs and Internet forum....
 (chat netiquette) and describes basic rules of online communication. To avoid misunderstandings and to simplify the communication between users in a chat these conventions or guidelines have been created. Chatiquette varies from community to community, generally describing basic courtesy; it introduces new user into the community and the associated network culture. As an example, it is considered rude to write only in UPPER CASE, because it looks as if the user is shouting.

The word chatiquette has been used in connection with various chat systems (e.g. IRC) since 1995.

Cultural impact

Despite being virtual, chat can spill into the outside world . There can also be a strong sense of online identity
Online identity

An online identity, internet identity, or internet persona is a social identity that an Internet user establishes in online communities and websites....
 leading to impression of subculture
IRC subculture

IRC subculture refers to the particular set of social features common to interaction on the various Internet Relay Chat systems across the world, and the Organizational culture associated with them....
 and even the notion of online rape . Compare Internet sociology.

Software and protocols

The following are common chat programs and protocols:
  • AOL Instant Messenger
    AOL Instant Messenger

    AOL Instant Messenger is an instant messaging and Presence information computer program which uses the proprietary software OSCAR protocol and the TOC protocol to allow registered users to communicate in real time....
     (AIM)
  • Camfrog
    Camfrog

    Camfrog is a video chat program with communities all over the network. It is owned by Camshare LLC. A limited version of the program is available as freeware on the company website with an option to upgrade to a full version unlocking more features....
  • Campfire
  • Gadu-Gadu
    Gadu-Gadu

    Gadu-Gadu is a Polish instant messaging client using its own protocol. Gadu-Gadu is the most popular IM service in Poland, with over 7.8 million registered accounts and approximately 6.5 million users online daily....
  • Google Talk
    Google Talk

    Google Talk is a free Windows and web-based application for instant messaging and Voice over IP , offered by Google Inc. The first beta version of the program was released on August 24, 2005....
  • ICQ
    ICQ

    ICQ is an instant messaging computer program, which was first developed by the Israeli company Mirabilis , now owned by Time Warner's AOL subsidiary....
     (OSCAR)
  • Internet Relay Chat
    Internet Relay Chat

    Internet Relay Chat is a form of real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for Many-to-many in discussion forums, called #Channels, but also allows One-to-one via instant messaging, as well as chat and data transfers via Direct Client-to-Client....
     (IRC)
  • Jabber (XMPP)
  • MUD
    MUD

    In Online game, a MUD , pronounced /m?d/, is a multi-user real-time virtual world described entirely in text. It combines elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, interactive fiction, and online chat....
  • Paltalk
    Paltalk

    Paltalk is an Online chat service for text, voice and video chatting. The Paltalk Messenger program is in a free, banner-supported format. It has an ad-free version that requires users to subscribe....
  • PSYC
    PSYC

    For the Sony CD player, see Walkman.PSYC is a flexible Text-based Protocol for delivery of data to a large number of recipients or people....
  • QQ
    Tencent QQ

    Tencent QQ, generally referred to as QQ, is the most popular free instant messaging computer program in Mainland China, and the world?s third most popular IM service ....
  • SILC
    SILC (protocol)

    SILC is a protocol that provides secure synchronous conferencing services over the Internet....
  • Skype
    Skype

    Skype is software that allows users to make voice over Internet Protocol. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers are free, while calls to other landlines and mobile phones can be made for a fee....
  • Talk
  • Talker
    Talker

    Talkers are chat systems that people use to talk to each other over the Internet. Dating back to the 1980s, they were a predecessor of instant messaging....
  • TeamSpeak
    TeamSpeak

    TeamSpeak is proprietary software Voice over IP software that allows users to speak on a chat channel with other users, much like a telephone conference call....
     (TS)
  • Windows Live Messenger
    Windows Live Messenger

    Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging client created by Microsoft that is currently designed to work with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Mobile....
  • Yahoo! Messenger
    Yahoo! Messenger

    Yahoo! Messenger is an advertisement-supported instant messaging client and YMSG provided by Yahoo!. Yahoo! Messenger is provided free of charge and can be downloaded and used with a generic "Yahoo! ID" which also allows access to other Yahoo! services, such as Yahoo! Mail, where users can be automatically notified when they receive new ema...


Chat programs supporting multiple protocols:
  • Adium
    Adium

    Adium is a popular free software instant messaging client for Mac OS X that supports multiple Protocol s through the library libezv and Pidgin ....
  • Digsby
    Digsby

    Digsby is a Proprietary software multiprotocol instant messaging application developed by dotSyntax, LLC. Digsby is written in wxPython and uses Webkit for rendering....
  • IMVU
    IMVU

    IMVU is a graphical instant messaging client with over 20 million registered users, and over 600,000 active monthly users, as of June 6, 2008. Currently, it is in Development stage#Beta, and has been available since April 2, 2004....
  • Kopete
    Kopete

    Kopete is a multi-protocol, free software instant messaging client . Although it can run in numerous environments, it was designed for and integrates with the KDE desktop environment....
  • Lotus Sametime
  • Miranda IM
    Miranda IM

    Miranda IM is an open source multiprotocol instant messaging application, designed for Microsoft Windows. Miranda is free software distributed under GNU General Public License....
  • Pidgin
    Pidgin (software)

    Pidgin is a multi-platform instant messaging client . The software has support for many commonly used instant messaging Protocol , allowing the user to log into various different services from one application....
  • Trillian
  • Quiet Internet Pager
    Quiet Internet Pager

    The Quiet Internet Pager is an instant messaging client. It is a closed source freeware developed by a Russian developer Ilham Zyulkorneyev. Its most distinct feature is the tabbed message window -- instead of multiple message windows open when chatting with more people, only one window with several tab s is used....


See also

  • Chat
    Chat

    Chat may refer to:...
     (disambiguation)
  • Chat room
    Chat room

    The term chat room, or chatroom, is primarily used by mass media to describe any form of synchronous conferencing, occasionally even asynchronous conferencing....
  • Collaborative software
    Collaborative software

    Collaborative software is software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve their goals. Collaborative software is the basis for computer supported cooperative work....
  • Live support software
    Live support software

    Live Support Software is a popular term for instant messaging applications designed specifically to provide online assistance to users of a web site....
  • Online dating service
    Online dating service

    Online dating or Internet dating is a dating system which allows individuals, couples and groups to make contact and communicate with each other over the Internet, usually with the objective of developing a personal romantic or sexual relationship....