Chat
Chat is the act of communication, interaction, and interchanging messages on the Internet. Chat includes two or more people communicating via chat-enabled service or software. Chats are also called online or Internet chats [Technopedia].
Chat is a tool allowing parties to make and enter online rooms for communication in real-time [Igi-Global].
The chat messages are usually short to enable other participants to reply rapidly. Thus, chat produces a feeling similar to a conversation, which differentiates chatting from other text online forms of communication, for example, Internet forums or email. Online chat may refer to point-to-point communications, multicast communications from one addresser to many addressees and voice and video chat, or perhaps a web conferencing service. In a less strict definition, online chat may be mainly any direct text-based or video-based, one-on-one chat or one-to-many group chat, applying tools like instant messengers, Internet Relay Chat, talkers, and possibly MUDs. The term “online chat” came from the word “chat,” whose simple definition is “informal conversation.” Online chat involves web-based applications that allow communication – frequently directly addressed but anonymous [Definitions.net].
⠀ Chat. Technopedia. Retrieved from: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/387/chat.
⠀ Online Chat. Igi-Global. Retrieved from: https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/innovations-motivations-online-chat/20910.