Online chat rooms provide a way for computer users to communicate with each in a virtual 'room' by typing messages to each other in real time. Usually, chats can be basic text communications or can be quite an elaborate interaction within a 3D environment. Online chatting probably saw its height of popularity among users in the late '90's, but still holds an important ranking among the various methods of personal communication that are available today. Chatting online is a unique function that spawns greater community among friendship, dating, singles, and other specialized sites. Many social networking web sites offer various chats on the Internet among their other interactive tools in an effort to provide complete access to online communication methods that will suit just about everyone.

Some of the most common forms of online communication methods that are used are email, discussions boards, and forums. Instant messaging and chat rooms on the Internet are also part of the list of most used communication techniques.