---
title: Chat Rooms
description: A console-based XMPP client for power users.
sidebar:
  order: 4
---

## Joining a chat room

Use the [`/join`](/command-reference#join) command to join a chat room supplying the name of the room:

```bash
/join room@conference.server.com
```

Your nickname will be the account nick setting which by default is set to the 'localpart' of your Jabber ID. For example if you are logged in as *itsme@server.com* you will join the room with the nickname _itsme_.

To specify a nickname different to your account setting when joining the room, use the nick option:

```bash
/join room@conference.server.com nick MrChatty
```

If you omit the domain part of the chat room, the account setting muc will be used which by default is set to conference.\<domain\>. For example, if you are logged in as *kai@mycompany.org*, using the following command:

```bash
/join development
```

is the same as:

```bash
/join development@conference.mycompany.org
```

To join a room which requires a password, use the _password_ option:

```bash
/join privatedev@conference.someserver.im password p455w0rd
```

The account settings for default nickname and conference service may be changed for any account using the [`/account`](/command-reference#account) command.

## Creating a chat room

If a room is joined which did not previously exist, and the server allows it, the room will be created. More information on creating and configuring chat rooms can be found at [Chat Room Configuration and Administration](/guides/chat-room-configuration-and-administration/).

If you are using Google Talk, creating a new room is slightly different. See the [FAQ](/about/faq).

## Changing your nickname

Use the [`/nick`](/command-reference#nick) command whilst in a chat room to change your nickname, for example to change your nickname to bob:

```bash
/nick bob
```

## Inviting contacts to a room

To invite one of your contacts to the current chat room, use the [`/invite`](/command-reference#invite) command with an optional reason for the invite:

```bash
/invite Bruce
```

or with a reason:

```bash
/invite Bruce Come and join the chat
```

As with other commands, the name must be double quoted if it contains spaces:

```bash
/invite "Bruce Dickenson" Join us!
```

## Sending messages

To send a message to the room, enter the message and press enter.

To direct a message to a particular recipient in the room, type the start of the recipient’s nickname and use \<tab\> to autocomplete the nickname. The nickname will be followed by ": ", after which you may type your message.

For example, assuming a participant exists in the room named _eddie_, type:

```plaintext
ed<tab>this message is just for you
```

Autocompletion using \<tab\> will also complete participants names in the middle of message text, without the ": ".

## Sending a private message

To start a private chat session with a room participant use the [`/msg`](/command-reference#msg) command supplying the participants nickname:

```bash
/msg "Some User" Hello there!
```

```bash
/msg mike hello there!
```

## Leaving a room

To leave a chat room, use the /leave command, the [`/close`](/command-reference#close) command has the same effect.

## Bookmarking rooms

To bookmark chat rooms, including the ability to autojoin the rooms when signing in, see the [`/bookmark`](/command-reference#bookmark) command. The simplest way to bookmark a room (and enable autojoin) is to use the `/bookmark` command with no arguments in the room you wish to bookmark.
