Since its inception, the internet has come a long way. Over the years, it has evolved in different phases before reaching the stage it is in now, and today, the internet has become a vital lifeline for many.
The latest iteration of this evolution has resulted in Web3 which is privacy driven decentralized version of the internet where anonymity and efficiency has the highest importance.
If you are conversant with the world of blockchain, then you must have come across "Web 2.0" and "Web 3.0". You might be interested in their exact definitions and how they are relevant to blockchain technology. The following discussion will help you have a detailed understanding of web 2.0 and web 3.0.
Web 2.0 is also known as the second generation of internet services. It is a participative social web that fostered the growth of user-generated content, interoperability across different services, interactiveness, usability, and high levels of participation.
Today, it represents the internet and embraces all the social media sites, blogs, news generation, shopping, and more!
While web 2.0 is an advanced approach to web 1.0, it still has some setbacks, which brought in evolution to Web 3.0. For example, Web 2.0 is highly centralized which means any single entity like Facebook, X.com or Twitch can censor your data and your actions with little to no cause or even a valid explanation.
Web 3.0 exhibits an improvement over Web 2.0. It is also called the semantic web or the third generation of the internet. It is based on a decentralized network which is mostly independent of any single point control or failure.
Web3 is controlled by hundreds if not thousands of computers which act as decentralized servers. This ensures that there is not single point of failure and since all these computers have contributed to the upkeep of the network, they also get a say in its governance.
For those unable to provide a device or as they are called, nodes; they can contribute via buying the network's cryptocurrencies which help make the entire ecosystem economically sustainable. This helps make the Web3 more inclusive.
Also a central part of Web3 is privacy which is ensured with anonymous users. Each user in Web3 enjoys an unparalleled anonymity and is only identified by their wallet address.
Web 3.0 leverages an advanced metadata system that helps structure and order all data for easy readability for both users and machines.
However, one lag in Web3 is that it exists as a loose network of independent siloes and not as a cross-functional network as the Web2. This prohibits free data flow from one network (say Bitcoin) to another (say Ethereum). Though there are independent solutions like Chainlink's CCIP, yet they are not widespread as they need to be.
FINAL WORDS
To date, web 2.0 is still the foundation for many web applications. However, web 3.0 presents a promising infrastructure for interactions between humans and machines. Also, it comes with better security, privacy, and protocol (decentralized protocol).
Disclaimer: Voice of Crypto aims to deliver accurate and up-to-date information but will not be responsible for any missing facts or inaccurate information. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile financial assets, so research and make your own financial decisions.