Chat is a form of electronic communication in which the participants in a discussion are online at the same time (in a chatroom) and can view typed messages immediately. It's similar to the popular instant messaging services offered by companies such as America Online and Microsoft. Chatrooms are accessible through a Web browser or as standalone programs.

Chatrooms are devoted to a variety of subjects, ranging from the mundane to the academic. A number of chatrooms on the Internet host discussions in which knowledgeable people exchange views about a topic. CNN.com, for instance, frequently hosts chat sessions with leading authors, politicians, news reporters, and entertainers.

People who participate in chat sessions are not required to reveal their identities, so almost anything goes. As a result, you may not obtain the kind of information you expect to find given the title of a particular chat channel.

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