Online chat

Online chat can refer to any kind of communication over the Internet, but is primarily meant to refer to direct one-on-one chat or text-based group chat (formally also known as synchronous conferencing), using tools such as instant messaging applications—computer programs, Internet Relay Chat, talkers and possibly MUDs, MUCKs, MUSHes and MOOes. The expression online chat comes from the word chat which means "informal conversation".

Software and protocols

The following are common chat programs and protocols:

• AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
• Camfrog
• Campfire
• Gadu-Gadu
• Google Talk
• ICQ (OSCAR)
• Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
• Jabber (XMPP)
• MUD
• MUSH
• PalTalkTemplate:Multicol-break
• Pichat
• PSYC
• SILC
• Skype
• Talk
• Talker
• TeamSpeak (TS)
• Userplane
• Vivox
• Windows Live Messenger
• Yahoo! Messenger

Chat programs supporting multiple protocols:

• Adium
• Digsby
• IMVU
• Kopete
• Meetro
• Miranda IM
• Pidgin
• Trillian
• Quiet Internet Pager

See also

• Chat (disambiguation)
• Collaborative software
• Live support software