Gline
A gline, or G-line, is an IRC term for a global ban imposed on a user across an entire IRC network. It is typically issued by an IRC operator (IRCop) to block connections from a specific hostmask, IP address, or sometimes an ident string, so that the ban applies on all servers within the network. The primary purpose is to curb abusive behavior such as spam, floods, harassment, or botnet activity that originates from a consistent address or range.
In operation, the gline is recorded in the network’s ban database and propagated to all connected servers.
The term is widely used across IRC networks, though exact implementation details vary. Proponents view glines
See also: IRC, ban mask (+b), IRC operator, ban list, AKICK or equivalent ban management.