Chat
Chat is a form of communication in which conversations consist of a real-time stream of short text messages. Because sent messages immediately appear on the screen of the participants in a chat and can be responded to immediately, it is an accessible and fast way of textual interaction between persons or with an organization.
The English verb to chat can literally be translated as talking or chatting. English therefore refers to online chat to distinguish digital chatting from ordinary conversation.
Chatting past and present
There are different ways to chat. One of the technologies is Internet Relay Chat (IRC), an Internet protocol for chatting and also a global network of chat channels. In addition, chat rooms set up within web portals or separate websites were quite popular in the 1990s.
Most chat services use the Internet, but text messaging can also be seen as a form of chatting. Especially in the past, there are also (paid) services based on chatting via SMS.
Nowadays, we see that chatting is mainly used for maintaining social contacts. Instead of meeting, calling or emailing each other, messaging services like WhatsApp have become the most popular way to communicate with our family, friends and colleagues.
Chatting with companies
Many companies offer the opportunity to get in touch through well-known messaging services and through the messaging features of social media like Twitter and Facebook. In most conversations, questions are asked about products or services or customers ask for support with a problem or a solution to a complaint.
Some companies offer within their website the possibility to chat live with an employee through special plug-ins. Increasingly, instead of an employee, a chatbot is used, which may or may not have been developed specifically for the company.
