Web 1.0 was all about fetching, and reading information. Web 2.

0 is all about reading,

writing, creating, and interacting with the end user. It was famously called the
participative social web. Web 3.0 is the third generation of the World Wide Web, and is
a vision of a decentralized web which is currently a work in progress. It is all about
reading, writing, and owning.

Let’s dive deeper to know better about web 1.0 and web 2.0 and the need for web 3.0.
Web 1.0
Web 1.0 refers to the first stage of the World Wide Web evolution. Earlier, there were
only a few content creators in Web 1.0 with a huge majority of users who are
consumers of content. Personal web pages were common, consisting mainly of static
pages hosted on ISP-run web servers, or free web hosting services.

In Web 1.0 advertisements on websites while surfing the internet are banned. Also, in
Web 1.0, Ofoto is an online digital photography website, on which users could store,
share, view, and print digital pictures. Web 1.0 is a content delivery network (CDN)
that enables the showcase of the piece of information on the websites. It can be used
as a personal website. It costs the user as per pages viewed. It has directories that
enable users to retrieve a particular piece of information. The era of Web 1.0 was
roughly from 1991 to 2004.
Four Design Essentials of a Web 1.0 Site Include:

 Static pages.
 Content is served from the server’s file system.
 Pages built using Server Side Includes or Common Gateway Interface (CGI).

 Frames and Tables are used to position and align the elements on a page.
Web 2.0
2004 When the word Web 2.0 become famous due to the First Web 2.0 conference
(later known as the Web 2.0 summit) held by Tim O’Reilly and Dale Dougherty, the
term was coined by Darcy DiNucci in 1999. Web 2.0 refers to worldwide websites
which highlight user-generated content, usability, and interoperability for end
users. Web 2.0 is also called the participative social web. It does not refer to a
modification to any technical specification, but to modify the way Web pages are
designed and used. The transition is beneficial but it does not seem that when the
changes occur. Interaction and collaboration with each other are allowed by Web 2.0
in a social media dialogue as the creator of user-generated content in a virtual
community. Web 2.0 is an enhanced version of Web 1.0.
Web browser technologies are used in Web 2.0 development and it includes AJAX and
JavaScript frameworks. Recently, AJAX and JavaScript frameworks have become very
popular means of creating web 2.0 sites.

Five Major Features of Web 2.0:

  Free sorting of information, permits users to retrieve and classify the
information collectively.

 Dynamic content that is responsive to user input.

 Information flows between the site owner and site users using evaluation &
online commenting.

 Developed APIs to allow self-usage, such as by a software application.

 Web access leads to concerns different, from the traditional Internet user base
to a wider variety of users.

Usage of Web 2.0: The social Web contains several online tools and platforms where
people share their perspectives, opinions, thoughts, and experiences. Web 2.0
applications tend to interact much more with the end user. As such, the end-user is
not only a user of the application but also a participant in these 8 tools mentioned
below:
 Podcasting

 Blogging
 Tagging
 Curating with RSS

 Social bookmarking
 Social networking

 Social media
 Web content voting
Web 3.0

It refers to the evolution of web utilization and interaction which includes altering the
Web into a database, with the integration of DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology
blockchain is an example) and that data can help to make Smart Contracts based on
the needs of the individual. It enables the up-gradation of the backend of the web,
after a long time of focusing on the frontend (Web 2.0 has mainly been about AJAX,
tagging, and other front-end user-experience innovation). Web 3.0 is a term that is
used to describe many evolutions of web usage and interaction among several paths.
In this, data isn’t owned but instead shared but still is, where services show different
views for the same web / the same data.

The Semantic Web (3.0) promises to establish “the world’s information” in a more
reasonable way than Google can ever attain with its existing engine schema. This is
particularly true from the perspective of machine conception as opposed to human
understanding. The Semantic Web necessitates the use of a declarative ontological
language like OWL to produce domain-specific ontologies that machines can use to
reason about information and make new conclusions, not simply match keywords.
Main features That can Help us Define Web 3.0:
 Semantic Web: The succeeding evolution of the Web involves the Semantic
Web. The semantic web improves web technologies in demand to create, share
and connect content through search and analysis based on the capability to
comprehend the meaning of words, rather than on keywords or numbers.

 Artificial Intelligence: Combining this capability with natural language

processing, in Web 3.0, computers can distinguish information like humans to
provide faster and more relevant results. They become more intelligent to fulfill
the requirements of users.
 3D Graphics: The three-dimensional design is being used widely in websites
and services in Web 3.0. Museum guides, computer games, e-commerce,
geospatial contexts, etc. are all examples that use 3D graphics.
 Connectivity: With Web 3.0, information is more connected thanks to
semantic metadata. As a result, the user experience evolves to another level of
connectivity that leverages all the available information.
 Ubiquity: Content is accessible by multiple applications, every device is
connected to the web, and the services can be used everywhere.

 DLT and Smart Contracts: With the help of DLT, we can have a virtually
impossible-to-hack database from which one can have value to their content
and things they can own virtually, this is the technology that enables a
trustless society through the integration of smart contracts which does not
need to have a middle man to be a guarantor to make that contract occur on
certain cause its based on data from that DLT. It’s a powerful tool that can
make the world a far better place and generate more opportunities for everyone
on the internet.

Difference Between Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 –

S.
No. Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0

1. Mostly Read-Only Wildly Read-Write Portable and Personal

2. Company Focus Community Focus Individual Focus

3. Home Pages Blogs / Wikis Live-streams / Waves

S.
No. Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0

4. Owning Content Sharing Content Consolidating Content

5. WebForms Web Applications Smart Applications

6. Directories Tagging User behavior

7. Page Views Cost Per Click User Engagement

8. Banner Advertising Interactive Advertising Behavioral Advertising

9. Britannica Online Wikipedia The Semantic Web

10. HTML/Portals XML / RSS RDF / RDFS / OWL

Data of many was Data was personalized

Data was not controlled by some and no use of
11. Focused. mediatory. mediatory.

Information sharing is
12. the goal. Interaction is the goal. Immersion is the goal.

It connects
information as its It aims to connect Focuses on relating
13. primary goal. people. knowledge.

Introduction of web Intelligent web-based

14. Static websites applications functions and apps
S.
No. Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0

A simpler, more
15. passive web. An enhanced social Web A semantic web exists.

Web and File Servers, Web 3.0 technologies

HTML, and Portals are include blockchain,
technologies AJAX, JavaScript, CSS, artificial intelligence,
connected to Web and HTML5 are examples and decentralized
16. 1.0. of related technology. protocols.

Associated
Technologies

 Web and File

Servers
 Search Engines
(including Associated
AltaVista and Technologies
Yahoo!)
 Searching Using
Associated
 E-mail Semantics
Technologies
accounts
 Databases of
(Yahoo!,  Frameworks for
Information
Hotmail) Ajax and
JavaScript  Ontologies
 Peer-to-Peer
File Sharing  Microsoft.NET  Intelligent Digital
(Napster, Personal
 Blogs
BitTorrent) and Assistants and
17. others.  Wikis and others. others.

Hence, these were the major difference between Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 having
their own uniqueness. All three were used at their respective time and revolutionized
the world of the web accordingly.

What Is Web 1.0?

Basically, this first version of the Web consisted of a few people creating web pages
and content and web pages for a large group of readers, allowing them to access facts,
information, and content from the sources.
Or you can sum up Web 1.0 like this: it was designed to help people better find
information. This web version dealt was dedicated to users searching for data. This
web version is sometimes called “the read-only Web” because it lacks the necessary
forms, visuals, controls, and interactivity we enjoy on today’s Internet.
People use the term “Web 1.0” to describe the earliest form of the Internet. Users saw
the first example of a worldwide network that hinted at future digital communication
and information-sharing potential.
Here are a few characteristics found in Web 1.0:

 It’s made up of static pages connected to a system via hyperlinks

 It has HTML 3.2 elements like frames and tables
 HTML forms get sent through e-mail

 The content comes from the server's filesystem, not a relational database
management system
 It features GIF buttons and graphics

Take a real-world dictionary, digitize everything in it, and make it accessible to people
online to look at (but not be able to react to it). Boom. That’s Web 1.0.

What Is Web 2.0?

If Web 1.0 was made up of a small number of people generating content for a larger
audience, then Web 2.0 is many people creating even more content for a growing
audience. Web 1.0 focused on reading; Web 2.0 focused on participating and
contributing.
This Internet form emphasizes User-Generated Content (UGC), ease of use,
interactivity, and improved compatibility with other systems and devices. Web 2.0 is
all about the end user's experience. Consequently, this Web form was responsible for
creating communities, collaborations, dialogue, and social media. As a result, Web 2.0
is considered the primary form of web interaction for most of today's users.
If Web 1.0 was called “the read-only Web,” Web 2.0 is known as “the participative
social Web.” Web 2.0 is a better, more enhanced version of its predecessor,
incorporating web browser technologies such as JavaScript frameworks.
Here’s a breakdown of typical Web 2.0 characteristics:
 It offers free information sorting, allowing users to retrieve and classify data
collectively
 It contains dynamic content that responds to the user’s input
  It employs Developed Application Programming Interfaces (API)
 It encourages self-usage and allows forms of interaction like:

 Podcasting
 Social media
 Tagging

 Blogging
 Commenting
 Curating with RSS

 Social networking
 Web content voting
 It’s used by society at large and not limited to specific communities.

Mobile Internet access and the rise of social networks have contributed to a dramatic
upturn in Web 2.0’s growth. This explosion is also fueled by the rampant popularity of
mobile devices such as Android-powered devices and iPhones. In addition, Web 2.0's
growth made it possible for apps such as TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube to expand and
dominate the online landscape.
You’re using Web 2.0 at this exact moment, you know.

What Is Web 3.0?

And finally, we come to the latest Web iteration.

When trying to figure out the definitive web 3.0 meaning, we need to look into the
future. Although there are elements of Web 3.0 currently available today, it still has a
way to go before it reaches full realization.
Web 3.0, which is also referred to as Web3, is built on a foundation consisting of the
core ideas of decentralization, openness, and more excellent user utility. Web 1.0 is
the "read-only Web," Web 2.0 is the "participative social Web," and Web 3.0 is the
"read, write, execute Web."
This Web interaction and utilization stage moves users away from centralized
platforms like Facebook, Google, or Twitter and towards decentralized, nearly
anonymous platforms. World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee initially called Web
3.0 the Semantic Web and envisioned an intelligent, autonomous, and open Internet
that used Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to act as a "global brain" and
process content conceptually and contextually.
This idealized version didn’t quite pan out due to technological limitations, like how
expensive and complicated it is to convert human language into something readily
understood by computers.
Here’s a list of typical Web 3.0 characteristics:
 It's a semantic web, where the web technology evolves into a tool that lets users
create, share, and connect content via search and analysis. It is based on
comprehension of words instead of numbers and keywords.
 It incorporates Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. If these concepts
are combined with Natural Language Processing (NLP), the result is a computer
that uses Web 3.0 to become smarter and more responsive to user needs.
 It presents the connectivity of multiple devices and applications through
the Internet of Things (IoT). Semantic metadata makes this process possible,
allowing all available information to be effectively leveraged. In addition, people
can connect to the Internet anytime, anywhere, without needing a computer or
smart device.
 It offers users the freedom to interact publicly or privately without having an
intermediary expose them to risks, therefore offering people “trustless” data.

 It uses 3-D graphics. In fact, we already see this in computer games, virtual
tours, and e-commerce.

 It facilitates participation without needing authorization from a governing body.

It’s permissionless.
 It can be used for:

 Metaverses: A 3D-rendered, boundless, virtual world

 Blockchain games: They allow users to have actual ownership of in-game
resources, following the principles of NFTs

 Privacy and digital infrastructure: This use includes zero-knowledge

proofs and more secure personal information
 Decentralized finance. This use includes payment Blockchains, peer-to-
peer digital financial transactions, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency
 Decentralized autonomous organizations. Community members own
online communities

Web 3.0 ultimately lets users interact, exchange information, and securely conduct
financial transactions without a centralized authority or coordinator. As a result, each
user becomes a content owner instead of just a content user.

Remember that Web 3.0 isn't entirely in place. However, we are already seeing
elements of Web 3.0 working their way into our Internet experiences, such as NFTs,
Blockchain, Distributed ledgers, and the AR cloud. Additionally, Siri is Web 3.0
technology, as is the Internet of Things. However, if and when the full implementation
happens, it will be closer to Berners-Lee's initial vision of Web 3.0. As he puts it, it will
be a place with "no permission is needed from a central authority to post anything …
there is no central controlling node, and so no single point of failure … and no "kill
switch."

Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially in speech recognition;

human speech has a staggering variety of nuances and terms that technology can't
fully comprehend. There have been advances, but the process hasn't yet been
perfected.
Uses of Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0
 Uses of Web 1.0: Web 1.0 functions as a CDN (content delivery network),
allowing a chunk of the website to be displayed on the website. As a result, it
can be used as a personal website. The users would be charged in terms of each
page view. It is made up of directories that allow its users to get a certain
collection of information.
 Uses of Web 2.0: The social web comprises numerous platforms and tools.
People contribute their opinions, insights, experiences, and thoughts on these
sites. Thus, Web 2.0 tends to interact substantially more with its end users.
These end users are not only the users of the programmes, but also the
participants/viewers generated by podcasts, tagging, blogging, RSS curation,
Web content voting, Social media, Social networking, Social bookmarking, and
many more.

 Uses of Web 3.0: Web 3.0 are enhanced variations of the original Web 1.0 from
the 1990s and early 2000s. Web 3.0 is the next generation of the current web
that we are familiar with.

Potential and Pitfalls of Web 3.0

Potentials
1. Data ownership. You will have the choice of what details you want to provide to
companies and advertising agencies, and you will be able to make money off of
it.
2. There are fewer middlemen.

3. Transparency - Every stakeholder will constantly be aware of the worth and

business they are connected to.
4. The improvement of internet data connections will be made possible via the
semantic web.
Pitfalls
1. Users will need a device with above-average hardware to access Web3.

2. For newbies, it could be a little challenging to understand.

 3. Difficult to regulate.
4. Simple access to users' private and open data

What Are the Differences Between the Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0?
Let’s break down and examine the differences between the three Webs using this
handy table.

Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0

Typically read-only Strongly read-write Read-write-interact

Owned content Shared content Consolidated content

Visual/interactive Web Programmable Web Linked data Web

Home pages Wikis and blogs Waves and live streams

Web page Web service endpoint Data space

HTML/HTTP/URL/Portals XML/RSS RDF/RDFS/OWL

Page views Cost per click User engagement

Personal intelligent data

File/web servers, search
Instant messaging, Ajax and assistants, ontologies,
engines, e-mail, P2P file
JavaScript frameworks, Adobe knowledge bases,
sharing, content and enterprise
Flex semantic search
portals
functions

Directories Tagging the user User behavior

 Focus on the company Focus on the community Focus on the individual

Encyclopedia Britannica online Wikipedia The Semantic Web

Banner advertising Interactive advertising Behavioral advertising

Active 1989-2005 Active 1999-2012 Active 2006-ongoing

Incidentally, just as the age range of various generations differs depending on who
you get the information from (things like boomers, Generation X, and millennials),
there’s also variance in Web version activity. For example, some sources classify Web
1.0 as 1990-2000, Web 2.0 as 2000-2010, and Web 3.0 as 2010-onward.
We can also say that Web 1.0 helped people find things online better, Web 2.0 enabled
people to experience things better, and Web 3.0 helped people create things online
better.
What Are the Similarities Between the Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0?

If you take a good look at all three different web versions, you notice that they only
have a few fundamental traits in common. They are:
 They all deal with the relationship between end-users and information

 They all provide users with an iteration of the “read” function

 They all rely on the Internet to expedite their tasks
What Are the Features of the Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0?

Here’s a breakdown of each web version’s salient features.

Web 1.0
 No user-to-server communication

 Static websites
 Content browsing only
 Hyper-linking and bookmarking pages

 Read-only Web
Web 2.0
 Improved user interaction over Web 1.0
  Web applications introduced
 Functions such as online documents, video streaming, etc.

 Everything moves online; information and apps are stored on servers

 Interactive advertising and pay-per-click
 Cloud computing operations

 Centralized data
 Read and Write Web
Web 3.0

 Intelligent, web-based functionalities and applications

 Decentralized processes
 A fusion of Web technology and Knowledge Representation

 Behavioral advertising and engagement

 Edge computing
 Live videos

 The Internet of Things (IoT)

 Semantic searches
 Read, Write, and Control Web

Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0: A Closer Comparison

Let’s take a closer look at these two versions of the Web, especially since they are the
iterations that the majority of users are most familiar with. Long-standing Internet
users are no doubt familiar with the “old” Internet (Web 1.0), and Web 2.0 is the
default standard today, so everyone has experienced it in one way or another. We have
elements of Web 3.0 here and there, but it hasn’t been rolled out as a complete entity
yet.
The best way to accurately compare Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0 is by analogy. Let’s say
someone hands you a book to read. You read it, but you can’t change any of the words
in it. That’s what Web 1.0 was like. On the other hand, if someone offered you a
different book and a red editor’s pencil and told you that you can not only read the
book but also use the pencil to make changes or additions to it, well, that’s Web 2.0.
So, Web 1.0 information can’t be modified, while Web 2.0 information can. Web 1.0 is
a static Web with linear information, and Web 2.0 is a dynamic Web that contains
non-linear information. Linear information is defined as text that must be read in the
traditional straight-line format, from beginning to end. Non-linear, on the other hand,
has no such restrictions, and can be read in any order the reader wishes.
Web 1.0 is a static form of the Web, while the Web 2.0 is a dynamic entity. Then we
add Web 3.0 back in the mix and see how it takes the user experience to the next
level.
Looking Beyond Web 3.0
Yes, there is already talk of a Web 4.0! Speculation is rampant, with people theorizing
that it will be more cerebral and address the decentralization issues raised by Web
3.0. Decentralization isn't perfect and will require extensive fine-tuning if it's adopted
on a large scale.

There are even some pundits who speculate that Web 4.0 will be the ultimate step in
Web evolution, with users accessing the Web via physical implants! Depending on
your sensibilities, that is either a very cool idea or an absolute dystopian nightmare!

And for anyone who thinks that idea is too much in the realm of science fiction,
remember that we have wearable tech in the present, things like FitBits, or heart
monitors that send information to the patient’s Primary Care Provider. It's not too big
of a move to a device that’s implanted in the user that allows Web access at will and
bypasses the need for a hand-held mobile device.
But no matter what Web 4.0 will look like, it's still decades away. So, for now, the IT
world is busy trying to implement Web 3.0 fully.
What Is Web 2.5?

Businesses operating on the blockchain that fall between Web2 and Web3 are
increasingly referred to as Web 2.5. The rationale for this is that users want the
benefits of a platform built on a blockchain.

What Is Web 4.0?

The term "Internet 4.0," also referred to as "Web 4.0," is used to refer to a future stage
of the Web where users may interact more easily. The growing use of social media and
mobile devices in this generation is distinctive.
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FAQs
1. What is Web 1.0?
The name "Web 1.0" refers to the original version of the Internet as it emerged from its
roots with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and became, for
the first time, a worldwide network symbolizing the future of digital communications.
It defines the initial "iteration" of what evolved into a developing, changing medium
that eventually extended into a platform with extensive multi-functional applications.

2. What are some examples of Web 1.0?

MySpace and LiveJournal are two of the most visible instances of Web 1.0. These
websites were primarily personal and lacked the corporate aspect of today's sites.

3. What is Web 2.0?

When it comes to describing web 2.0, the word refers to internet apps that allow
individuals to share and collaborate while also allowing them to express themselves
online. Web 2.0 refers to the business transformation in the computer industry
triggered by the shift to the internet as a platform and any endeavor to comprehend
the rules of success on that new platform.

4. What is Web 3.0?

Decentralization, blockchain technology, and token-based economics are the core
characteristics of Web 3.0 (also called Web 3.0). Web 3.0 (Web3) is a third-generation
advancement in web technology. World Wide Web is the term used to describe the
primary layer of the internet that provides services for websites and applications.
Because Web 3.0 is continuously expanding and being defined, there is no canonical,
widely acknowledged definition. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) will
also assist in enabling more intelligent and adaptable applications.

5. Are Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 the same?

They are not. Web 1.0 is a static Web with linear content, whereas Web 2.0 is a
dynamic Web with non-linear content.

6. What do Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 do?

Web 1.0 is known as the "read-only Web." This is known as the "participative social
Web," whereas Web 3.0 is known as the "read, write, execute Web." This stage of Web
engagement and use shifts users away from centralized platforms such as Facebook,
Google, and Twitter and toward decentralized, practically anonymous services.
7. Which is faster, Web 1.0 or Web 2.0?

Data is only updated once in a while in Web 1.0 since most of the content on the
screen is static. On the other hand, the material on Web 2.0 is highly dynamic, and it
is updated at a rapid pace. As a result, Web 2.0 has an advantage over Web 1.0.

8. Which is better overall, Web 1.0 or Web 2.0?

Web 1.0 was dubbed "the read-only Web," while Web 2.0 is dubbed "the participatory
social Web." Web 2.0 is an improved version of Web 1.0, combining web browser
features such as JavaScript frameworks. The information displayed on-screen in Web
1.0 is primarily static, and even the website’s data is updated only once in several
months. With Web 2.0, information is exceedingly dynamic and updated at an
exceptionally quick rate.
9. Difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0?
Web 1.0 focused on reading; Web 2.0 focused on engaging and contributing. eg:
browser technologies such as AJAX and JavaScript frameworks are employed in Web
2.0 development.
10. What are some Web 1.0 examples?

Two of the most well-known Web 1.0 examples are MySpace and LiveJournal.
11. Which of the two is much faster: Web 1.0 or Web 2.0?
Since the majority of the content on the screen in Web 1.0 is static, data is only
sometimes refreshed. The content on Web 2.0, on the other hand, is extremely
dynamic and updated frequently.