Editing IRC (section)

===Operators===
{{main|IRC operator}}

There are also users who maintain elevated rights on their local server, or the entire network; these are called IRC operators,<ref name="rfc 1459 1.2.1 operators">{{cite IETF
| rfc         = 1459
|title=Internet Relay Chat Protocol
| sectionname = Operators
| section     = 1.2.1
| page        = 5
| idanchor    = ietf
}}</ref> sometimes shortened to IRCops or Opers (not to be confused with channel operators). As the implementation of the IRCd varies, so do the privileges of the IRC operator on the given IRCd. RFC 1459<ref name="rfc 1459 1.2.1 operators" /> claims that IRC operators are "a necessary evil" to keep a clean state of the network, and as such they need to be able to disconnect and reconnect servers. Additionally, to prevent malicious users or even harmful automated programs from entering IRC, IRC operators are usually allowed to disconnect clients and completely ban IP addresses or complete subnets. Networks that carry services (NickServ et al.) usually allow their IRC operators also to handle basic "ownership" matters. Further privileged rights may include overriding channel bans (being able to join channels they would not be allowed to join, if they were not opered), being able to op themselves on channels where they would not be able without being opered, being auto-opped on channels always and so forth.