Chat room is a communications service available on computer networks. Individual computer users in a chat room type messages to one another. When a user sends a message, it instantly appears on the computer screens of everybody “in the room.” The chat room identifies each sender—either by the sender’s name or by a screen name made up by the sender. Most rooms are devoted to a single subject.
The immediate availability of the messages distinguishes chat rooms from similar features called bulletin board services. Users of a bulletin board service type messages for later reading.
Chat rooms are available on the internet . They are also offered by online services, commercial networks to which subscribers generally pay monthly or hourly fees.
See also Instant messaging .
