Microsoft Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a real-time messaging platform that allows users to communicate in channels or private messages. It was developed by Microsoft to facilitate group discussions and individual chats over the internet. Users can join various channels based on their interests and engage in text-based conversations. IRC operates on a client-server model, where users connect to a server to access different channels. It supports multiple users simultaneously, making it a popular choice for communities and organizations. Although it has been largely replaced by modern messaging apps, IRC remains a significant part of internet history and online communication.