View source for Hostmask

A user's hostmask gives their [[IRC Definition: Nick|nick]], their [[IRC Definition: Username|username]] and their ip or host.  It is of the form:
 nick!username@host
Hostmasks are used while [[Channel Bans|banning]] people from [[Channels|channels]].  When banning it is often wise to use wildcards in the hostmask, for example:
 /mode #channel +b nick!username@host
Is easy to evade, as they only need to change their nick to be able to rejoin the channel.
 /mode #channel +b *!*@host
Is more difficult to evade, as they need to change their host.
 /mode #channel +b *!*@*last_part_of_host
Is even harder to evade, as it'll probably force someone to use a different ISP in order to regain access to the channel.  However, the wider hostmask you set on a ban, or any other command, the more people it may uninentionally affect.  It is, therefore, not recomended to ban *!*@*.
[[Category:IRC Definitions]]