IRC:

Internet Relay Chat is a text-based chat program.It helps to get connected with peoples.
--> IRC was created by Jarkko Oikarinen in August 1988
--> It stores all chats publicly in (https://www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/search?search=kanchilug) and we can communicate with them through this website.

--> Like whatsapp groups this IRC contains many groups.
--> Open source projects use one of the IRC group Freenode network-irc.(https://webchat.freenode.net/)
--> Through this IRC- web chat we can connect with any chatting room.
--> Apart from browser- web chat, we can also connect through local irc client like pidgin

--> Create userid and password, then register it with confirmation mail.
-->Then go to buddies-->Join a chat-->Enter channel name and your password.

So through IRC server we can connect with different channels where we can chat or discuss or work together and build networks with many people.We can also develop our client base through IRC.(web-based clients,application clients)

Refer:
1) https://goinggnu.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/why-i-like-irc-internet-relay-chat-even-in-2020/
2) https://kaniyam.com/what-is-irc-an-introduction/
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGurYNb0BM8