IRC Modes and Commands
Complete guide to using IRC on AustNet
Understanding modes and commands will help you get the most out of your IRC experience.
Channel Modes
Control how your channel behaves and who can join
Basic Modes
+i Invite only
Prevents users from joining the channel without an invite.
+k Password protected
Prevents users from joining the channel who have not specified the
+l <count> User limit
Allows no more than <count> users to join the channel.
+m Moderated channel
Prevents users without a prefix rank from messaging the channel.
+n No external messages
Prevents users who are not in the channel from messaging the channel.
+N Nickname lock
Prevents users from changing their nickname whilst in the channel.
+p Private channel
Hides the channel in /WHOIS from people who are not a member.
+t Topic protection
Prevents non-channel operators from changing the channel topic.
+R Registered users only
Prevents users who are not logged into a services account from joining the channel.
+s Secret channel
Hides the channel in /WHOIS and /LIST from people who are not a member.
+S Strip formatting
Enables stripping of IRC formatting codes from channel messages.
Advanced Modes
+b <mask> Ban mask
Bans users matching <mask> from joining the channel.
+C CTCP protection
Enables blocking channel messages that contain CTCPs.
+e <mask> Exception mask
Exempts users matching <mask> from channel mode b (ban).
+f [*]<lines>:<seconds> Flood protection
Kicks users who send more than <lines> messages in the last <seconds> seconds. If prefixed with * then offending users are also banned.
+j <joins>:<seconds> Join flood protection
Prevents more than <joins> joins in the last <seconds> seconds.
+J <seconds> Kick rejoin delay
Prevents who have been kicked from rejoining until <seconds> seconds have passed.
+K No KNOCK
Disables the usage of the /KNOCK command on this channel.
+Q No KICK
Prevents privileged users from using the /KICK command.
+T Block NOTICE
Enables blocking messages sent with the /NOTICE command.
+z SSL only
Prevents users who are not connected using TLS (SSL) from joining the channel.
How to use channel modes:
/mode #channel +n - Add no external messages mode/mode #channel -t - Remove topic protection/mode #channel +m - Make channel moderated/mode #channel +k password - Set channel password
User Modes
Control your personal IRC experience
Basic Modes
+d Deaf
Prevents the user from receiving channel messages.
+D Private Deaf
Prevents the user from receiving private messages.
+i Invisible
Marks the user as invisible.
+R Registered
Prevents users who are not logged into services from messaging the user.
+s Server notices
Enables receiving the specified types of server operator notice.
+S Strip Formatting
Enables stripping of IRC formatting codes from private messages.
+T No CTCP
Enables blocking private messages that contain CTCPs.
+w Wallops
Enables receiving /WALLOPS messages from server operators.
+x Cloak Hostname
Enables hiding of the user's hostname.
+z SSL only
Prevents messages from being sent to or received from a user that is not connected using TLS (SSL).
Channel Modes
+v Voice
Can speak in moderated channels (+m)
+h Half-operator
Limited operator privileges
+o Channel operator
Can kick, ban, and change channel modes
+a Protected
Server protection against kick, ban, etc.
How to use user modes:
/mode yournick +i - Become invisible/mode yournick -i - Become visible/mode yournick +w - Enable wallops
Common IRC Commands
Essential commands every IRC user should know
Basic Commands
/join #channel Join a channel
/part #channel Leave a channel
/nick newnickname Change your nickname
/msg nickname message Send a private message
/me action Send an action message
/quit [message] Disconnect from IRC
Channel Management
/topic #channel new topic Change channel topic
/kick #channel nickname Remove a user from channel
/mode #channel View current channel modes
/mode #channel +b nickname!*@* Ban a user from channel
/mode #channel +o nickname Give operator status
/mode #channel +v nickname Give voice to a user
Information Commands
/whois nickname Get information about a user
/list List all channels on the network
/list #pattern* List channels matching a pattern
/names #channel List users in a channel
/ping nickname Check if a user is responding
Services Commands
/NickOP REGISTER password email Register your nickname
/NickOP IDENTIFY password Identify to your registered nickname
/ChanOP REGISTER #channel Register a channel
/ChanOP SET #channel TOPICLOCK ON Lock channel topic to registered users
/HelpOP HELP Get network help from HelpOP