   instant messaging (im) is a type of online chat which offers real-time text transmission over the internet. a lan messenger operates in a similar way over a local area network. short messages are typically transmitted bi-directionally between two parties, when each user chooses to complete a thought and select "send". some im applications can use push technology to provide real-time text, which transmits messages character by character, as they are composed. more advanced instant messaging can add file transfer, clickable hyperlinks, voice over ip, or video chat. non-im types of chat include multicast transmission, usually referred to as "chat rooms", where participants might be anonymous or might be previously known to each other (for example collaborators on a project that is using chat to facilitate communication). instant messaging systems tend to facilitate connections between specified known users (often using a contact list also known as a "buddy list" or "friend list"). depending on the im protocol, the technical architecture can be peer-to-peer (direct point-to-point transmission) or client-server (a central server retransmits messages from the sender to the receiver). == overview ==  instant messaging is a set of communication technologies used for text-based communication between two or more participants over the internet or other types of networks. imâchat happens in real-time. of importance is that online chat and instant messaging differ from other technologies such as email due to the perceived quasi-synchrony of the communications by the users. some systems permit messages to be sent to users not then 'logged on' (offline messages), thus removing some differences between im and email (often done by sending the message to the associated email account). im allows effective and efficient communication, allowing immediate receipt of acknowledgment or reply. however im is basically not necessarily supported by transaction control. in many cases, instant messaging includes added features which can make it even more popular. for example, users may see each other via webcams, or talk directly for free over the internet using a microphone and headphones or loudspeakers. many applications allow file transfers, although they are usually limited in the permissible file-size. it is usually possible to save a text conversation for later reference. instant messages are often logged in a local message history, making it similar to the persistent nature of emails. == history == {{
Instant_messaging Internet_Relay_Chat Internet_culture Online_chat Social_networking_services Videotelephony