This article refers to a server ban in IRC. For other meanings, see K-line (disambiguation).

K-line or Kill Line is an IRC term. It stands for a line in the configuration file of the IRC server (ircd.conf), that prevents a client with a specific hostmask from connecting. Such a user is then called 'k-lined'.

Reasons for a client being k-lined may include:

• Geography: If a IRC network has servers in different countries and continents, it will try to reduce the distance between server and client. Thus, servers on one continent may k-line all clients from the others and vice versa.
• Infected client: A client infected by a virus, worm or trojan that spreads via IRC may be k-lined, so it doesn't reduce the efficiency of the server and to decrease the rate at which the malicious program is spreading.
• Misbehaviour: If a user repeatedly disobeys the rules of the IRC network, and doesn't change his behaviour through kicks and bans, then he/she might get k-lined to protect the other users of the server.

'Lines' are sometimes written with a colon instead of a hyphen, or just without any special character ("x-line, x:line, xline, x line") . For EFNet k:line means a temporary ban, a K:line (capital K) a permanent one.

The following terms are also related to k-lines:

• A g-line is a network-wide k-line ("global k-line").
• An i-line (EFNet) limits the use of a server to certain domain names. If a server limits access like that, it is called "closed I:", otherwise "open I:"
• A q-line is a ban on a nickname on a server
• An x-line bans a user from a server based on the real-name field.
• A z-line is a blocking of an IP address range on a network (instead of a hostmask)
• A d-line is what a z-line is called in the hybrid- and comstud-IRC-daemons (used by EFNet and DALnet)
• An akill or "Autokill" is a network-wide k-line that is done through OperServ

External links

• Undernet K-Line and G-Line FAQ with reasons for them, amongst other things
• EFnet FAQ with several -line terms explained