Definition

A live text-based messaging system where viewers can communicate with a streamer and each other in real-time during a broadcast. Chat messages appear in a scrolling sidebar or overlay visible to all participants.

Example Usage

The chat was spamming emotes when the streamer hit the final boss.

Origin

From the verb 'to chat,' meaning to converse informally; predates streaming but is fundamental to the experience.

Fun Fact

Popular streamer chats can move so fast they're essentially unreadable, with hundreds or thousands of messages per minute.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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