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Emmanuel Idoko
Emmanuel Idoko

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Web 3? Web 2?

Web 2 and Web 3 are successive iterations of the web, does it sound strange? well I bet you've always known web 2 maybe just not by the name "Web 2"

Web 2 is the web we know and use today.

Instead of static content(Web 1), it is a place for dynamic content, where users can interact with content published on the web.

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Be it social media, blogging, podcasting or social bookmarking — Web 2.0 is completely interaction-based. We engage through texts and comments, and we can easily attach and share content like images and music with other people. Some notable apps that flourished in Web 2.0: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and of course, Google. That is why this era of the web is also called the “Social Web”.

Web 3 the next iteration is built upon the core concepts of decentralization, openness, and greater user utility.

While there is as yet no standardized definition of Web 3.0, it does have a few defining features:

Decentralization: This is a core tenet of Web 3.0. In Web 2.0, computers use HTTP in the form of unique web addresses to find information, which is stored at a fixed location, generally on a single server. With Web 3.0, because information would be found based on its content, it could be stored in multiple locations simultaneously and hence be decentralized. This would break down the massive databases currently held by Internet giants like Facebook (now Meta) and Google, and would hand greater control to users.

“No permission is needed from a central authority to post anything on the web, there is no central controlling node, and so no single point of failure...and no ‘kill switch’! This also implies freedom from indiscriminate censorship and surveillance.”
Bottom-up design: “Instead of code being written and controlled by a small group of experts, it was developed in full view of everyone, encouraging maximum participation and experimentation.”

With Web 3.0, the data generated by disparate and increasingly powerful computing resources, including mobile phones, desktops, appliances, vehicles, and sensors, will be sold by users through decentralized data networks, ensuring that users retain ownership control.

Trustless and permissionless: In addition to decentralization and being based upon open source software, Web 3.0 will also be trustless (i.e., the network will allow participants to interact directly without going through a trusted intermediary) and permissionless (meaning that anyone can participate without authorization from a governing body). As a result, Web 3.0 applications will run on blockchains or decentralized peer-to-peer networks, or a combination thereof—such decentralized apps are referred to as dApps.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning: In Web 3.0, computers will be able to understand information similarly to humans, through technologies based upon Semantic Web concepts and natural language processing. Web 3.0 will also use machine learning, which is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) that uses data and algorithms to imitate how humans learn, gradually improving its accuracy. These capabilities will enable computers to produce faster and more relevant results in a host of areas like drug development and new materials, as opposed to merely targeted advertising that forms the bulk of current efforts.

Connectivity and ubiquity: With Web 3.0, information and content are more connected and ubiquitous, accessed by multiple applications and with an increasing number of everyday devices connected to the web—an example being the Internet of Things.

You want to go deeper into Web 3 technologies? checkout this article the complete guide to fullstack web3 development by by Nader Dabit

Checkout Blockgames as well if you're looking for a fun way to get into the web 3 space, sponsored by Nestcoin: a web3 based tech company and Zuri Team: an edtech company that helps enthusiasts achieve their dreams and gain exposure through internships

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