Editing Infobot (section)

== Operation ==
The Infobot works by a method of [[factoid]]s. It stores information in its database by connecting a phrase with its definition, usually an informative short line. It records its information by constantly listening to the chat (which is configurable). It states its factoids when it recognizes a question in the chat. For example:
<syntaxhighlight lang="irc">
 <someone> wikipedia is http://www.wikipedia.org/
</syntaxhighlight>
:''The Infobot at this point silently remembers the statement.''
<syntaxhighlight lang="irc">
 <someone> wikipedia?
 <infobot> somebody said wikipedia is http://www.wikipedia.org/
</syntaxhighlight>
Because of its ability to store statements and re-state them with ease, many [[IRC channel operator]]s use an Infobot to store information such as the channel rules so they could easily give them to newcomers to the channel.

Using its automated replies, Infobots are also often used as an entertainment bot, giving humorous replies to certain queries. For example, to prevent the Infobot from saying 'X is Y', the key word '<REPLY>' is used, to have this effect:
<syntaxhighlight lang="irc">
 <someone> dumb bot is <REPLY>stupid human
 <someone> infobot: what's up?
 <infobot> huh?
 <someone> dumb bot
 <infobot> stupid human
</syntaxhighlight>