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Web3 seems to be every techie’s favourite buzzword, but what does it mean?
web 3.0 is a term coined to represent the new version of the Web. the Web of the Future. change is a constant feature in the tech space, and the web is not left out. the evolution of the web counts from Web 1.0 up to Web 3.0. what have each of these stages featured? Let’s find out.
What if I tell you that the web and the internet are not the same thing? these words have been used interchangeably and their different meanings may have become somewhat lost to us. The Internet is a global network of computers and electronic devices that communicate with each other using an established set of protocols, while the World Wide Web (WWW), popularly known as the Web, is a specific application built on top of the Internet. The web can be described as a system of interconnected documents (web pages). the table below highlights several other differences between the Internet and the Web.
| the internet | the web |
| 1. The Internet is a network of computers | 1. the web is the main way people find information on the internet. |
| 2. the internet provides the underlying infrastructure. | 2. the web uses that infrastructure to deliver content and services. |
| 3. the internet uses TCP/IP protocol. | 3. the web uses HTTP/HTTPS protocols. |
the internet is a vast network of computers. Although the web is the most familiar internet-based service, it is not the only service available on the internet.
some other internet-based services include:
Email: Allows for electronic communication between individuals and organizations.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP): FTP is used to transfer files between computers over a network.
the web has undergone several key-stages of development. Here we will look at each of these stages, from web 1.0 to web 3.0.
web 1.0: Read-Only Web
This is also known as static web. it refers to the first version of the web. the web pages that defined this era were mostly static; users could only view information. there was no dynamic content, no databases, and no user interactivity. Just imagine it to be a very basic electronic billboard for announcements only.
Web 2.0: Read & Write Web
Aka “the Social Web” or “the Participative Web”. This version of the Web featured dynamic and user-generated content, alongside interactivity. These key features enabled the birth of social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
In Web 2.0, the web evolved from a passive platform to a participatory and interactive one. web 2.0 featured the following:
increased user engagement.
Democratization of content creation
Rise of social media marketing.
Shift from static to dynamic content.
despite all these advancements, web 2.0 had some obvious limitations which ranged from security concerns, quality of user-generated content, and difficulty protecting user identity, to centralized servers. these issues needed immediate addressing, and they to the birth of Web 3.0.
Web 3.0: Semantic Web
Web 3.0 addresses the issues faced by Web 2.0 and also adds a couple of interesting features to the web.
web 3.0 features:
AI Integration.
Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
Enhanced user experience & personalization.
Blockchain & decentralized technologies.
it is important to note that, while Web 3.0 is based on the notion of a Semantic Web, it is not the semantic web itself.
Tim Berners-Lee’s definition of the Semantic Web includes phrases like “integrated huge space of data” and “unbelievable data resource”. Web 3.0 embraces this concept but evolves into something more advanced, integrating more diverse features such as AI, machine learning, and decentralization.
Decentralization is perhaps, the backbone of Web 3.0. the following bullet points explain decentralization:
Blockchain Technology: At its core, Web 3.0 relies on blockchain, which allows data to be stored across a distributed network of computers. No single entity controls the data, enhancing security and transparency. In web3, a blockchain is a digital ledger that records transactions across many computers in a secure and decentralized manner. Each block contains a number of transactions, and every new block is linked to the previous one, forming a chain. This makes the data tamper-resistant. Example: Bitcoin's blockchain records all BTC transactions.
User Ownership of Data: Web 3.0 empowers users to own and control their data rather than having it managed by corporations. This shift encourages privacy and data sovereignty.
Decentralized Applications (dApps): Web 3.0 supports the development of dApps that operate on a peer-to-peer network. Users interact directly with each other, reducing the need for centralized platforms.
Interoperability: Web 3.0 promotes the creation of protocols and standards that enable different blockchain networks to work together, further decentralizing power by allowing users to move assets and data freely across platforms.
Decentralization, while being such a wonderful feature, has some drawbacks.
Decentralization makes regulating Web 3.0 difficult.
on Web 3.0, you are anonymous, I am anonymous, and so is every other person. your online safety depends largely on you.
Web 3.0 consumes a lot of energy resources due to its reliance on blockchain technology.
Web3 is a term used to describe the new paradigm of the internet powered by blockchain and smart contracts. Unlike the previous versions of the web, web3 is permissionless and relies on decentralized networks rather than centralized servers. This ushers in an era of censorship-resistant and transparent agreements and transactions, often called an ownership economy.