Online dating is fast becoming the best way for singles to meet and date. Online dating services generally allow people to provide personal information then search for other individuals using criteria such as age range, gender and location. Most sites allow members to upload photos and browse the photos of others. The goal of online dating sites is to help people establish meaningful relationships in their personal lives. Sites may offer additional services, including webcasts, online chat dating and message boards. Sites typically allow people to register for free but may offer services which require a monthly fee. Many sites are broad-based, with members from a variety of backgrounds looking for different types of relationships. Other sites are more specific, based on the type of members, interests, location, or relationship desired. U.S. residents spent $469.5 million on online dating and personals in 2004, the largest segment of 'paid content' on the web, according to a study conducted by the Online Publishers Association (OPA) and comScore Networks.

Online chat dating is one of the features of online dating. Online chat dating refers to what is now mostly known as instant messaging applications - computer programs that enable two-way typing to connect users to each other. However, there are online chat dating systems and other online services that do not use these applications to provide chat facilities, e.g., Delphi, often relying on HTTP-based protocols instead. Sometimes these are called a chat room or chat extending the physical metaphors of 'sites' and 'magazines' which many web services exploit.

Today there are many online chat dating services, some incorporating instant messaging features without having to install additional chat software. These online chat dating UK rooms often have friend finders built in. Some of these online chat dating systems also provide telephone voice mail access. These are usually known generically as just chat systems. A chat log is a record of a chat. Sometimes you can see this in online chat dating UK web.

Online chat dating service is virtually a dating system which allows individuals, couples and groups to meet online and possibly develop a social, romantic or sexual relationship. Online chat dating provides matchmaking through the use of personal computers and the Internet. Online chat dating services allow people to provide personal information. Most online dating sites allow members to upload photos and browse the photos of others. Sites typically allow people to register for free but may offer services which require a monthly fee.