The Gopher protocol (Gopher) is a protocol designed for distributing, searching, and retrieving documents. Gopher provides the linking and labeling capabilities of HTTP, with the structured hierarchy of download-only FTP.
On these webpages you will discover an extremely comprehensive Gopher Protocol archive, which also includes an extensive collection of Gopher Client and Server software for numerous platforms.

Internet Resources

Here is a list of some publicly accessible Gopher Server Addresses.

Gopher Servers do not always have to be accessed with native Gopher Clients, but can also be accessed with a conventional Web Browser through a HTTP to Gopher Proxy AOL Browser result for Keyword GOPHER.
Be aware that while any Server can operate on any Port, not all Proxies are configured to allow access to Gopher Servers operating on Ports other than 70 (you will receive an: Error Code 403).

Three well known public Gopherspace proxies are:
quux.org - Port 70
Floodgap Public Gopher Proxy
Gopher Proxy
There is also a public HTTP to Gopher Proxy that points only to the popular Gopherspace Wikipedia interface called: Gopherpedia
And a Webpage-based Gopherspace search engine called: GopherVista

There is an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel dedicated to the Gopher protocol, (#gopherproject), on the Freenode IRC server. Information about Freenode itself is available on the World Wide Web at: http://freenode.net/.

A Distribute mailing list for "Gopher discussions, questions, and advocacy" is available. To subscribe, send an e-mail with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: gopher-request@complete.org.
An archive of past e-mail from this gopher-at-complete.org mailing list is stored on quux.org.

There is a NNTP global-newsgroup (comp.infosystems.gopher) that is dedicated to Gopher. The newsgroup focuses on four aspects of Gopher; Gopher Client development, Gopher Server development, Gopherspace Engineering, and the Gopher Protocol in general. An archived reflection of this Gopher newsgroup is available on the World Wide Web at: http://groups.google.com/group/comp.infosystems.gopher/topics.


OpenNIC has a Top Level Domain of ".gopher" to highlight sites offering content via the gopher protocol. The .gopher TLD charter is available on the OpenNIC wiki: https://wiki.opennic.glue/opennic/dot/gopher.
You must however use an OpenNIC free DNS nameserver to access this wiki, because the Domain Name is not acknowledged by the ubiquitous IANA leased DNS nameservers.

The 4d2.org Gopher Server offers free Gopher page hosting to individuals and nonprofit groups who have a message to convey.
And subscribers to The Super Dimension Fortress may create their own Gopher homepage.


Note: Most HTTP Servers operate on Port 80, while most Gopher Servers operate on Port 70. While this is usually not an issue when accessing a Gopher Server through a HTTP to Gopher Proxy (most Proxies interface through Port 80), it might be a problem if you try to access a Gopher Server directly using a Gopher Client, as sometimes computer administrators inadvertently turn off Port 70.