Mibits

Mibits is a web-based IRC client service that provides browser-based access to Internet Relay Chat networks. It allows users to connect to IRC without installing a dedicated client, enabling chat directly in a web browser.

The service offers multi-network support, nickname management, channel navigation, and private messaging. It also provides embeddable chat widgets that website owners can place on pages to enable visitors to chat through the IRC backend. This setup made IRC more accessible to casual users and to sites seeking to add real-time discussion features.

Mibits grew in popularity during the 2000s as part of a broader movement toward browser-based chat interfaces. By lowering the barriers to entry, it helped bridge traditional IRC communities with web users and online platforms. The service operated in a competitive landscape that included other web-based IRC clients, standalone IRC applications, and the rise of modern messaging platforms. Some IRC networks and operators implemented policies that restricted or regulated gateway and web-based access, which affected how services like Mibits could be used on those networks.

Current information on the public availability and ongoing development of Mibits varies, reflecting changes in web technologies and user preferences for real-time communication. Nevertheless, Mibits is noted for its role in popularizing browser-based IRC access and for illustrating how embedded and web-based chat tools can extend IRC to a wider audience.