What Is Web 2.0?

Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:59AM EDT

See Comments (39)

I had the same question when I first heard the term. To simplify things, Web 2.0 is what people consider "the second generation of services available on the World Wide Web that lets people collaborate and share information online." Ok, I took those exact words from Wikipedia, which is a good example of this new Web 2.0 era. In the past we had encyclopedias; these days we also have wikis or wikipedias, which are updated more frequently.

O'Reilly has a much more extensive review on the matter, and it is an excellent resource because the group pretty much coined the term during a brainstorming session. Unfortunately, O'Reilly Media is also in the process of registering the term Web 2.0 as a service mark, so it can continue to use this term for its annual conference. I'm sure this will cause a lot of confusion for everyone in the future if we choose to adopt this name; then again, we may already be too late.

Aside from being a buzzword, Web 2.0 also refers to this exciting exchange of ideas where everyone plays a part. Whether they choose to do it via social networking sites like MySpace, blogs, video/audio podcasts, social bookmarking, photo communities, and wikis, to name a few, users are encouraged to create, contribute, or participate in these online communities. With all these applications comes a new language we must learn and a new way of designing web sites.

Just take a look around the web, and you will notice a lot of great companies out there that offer easy ways to share video and bookmarks, create personal or business blogs, or even make phone calls over the Internet. You'll recognize Web 2.0 web sites by their tag clouds, rounded corners, gradients, and short punchy names with elements of English words—well, at least that's what Reddit's how-to-video says.

While many have a problem with the label of this new phase, there is no denying that the web has certainly changed in the last few years and will continue to do so. Believe it or not, the term Web 3.0 is already out there. Since I couldn't possibly explain Web 2.0 as a whole in this post, I will leave you with a few great links to help you learn more about it or just have fun with it.

So what does Web 2.0 mean to you?

Top 5 Posts

Comments on What Is Web 2.0?

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 6 Posted by rendermanshader on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's my understanding thea the web 2.0 moniker really refers more to the newer technology approaches being used on these websites - AJAX in particular. Graphidcdesign isn't affected in any large way, although most "2.0" sites use a modern look - lotsa subtle gradients and OSX style shiny buttons :-)

  • 7 Posted by farhad_massoudi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    What is the coolest Web 2.0 site out there? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApR0EThT8bmIzxMmFGyDQyDsy6IX?qid=20060620001604AATtzmD

  • 8 Posted by frankduran2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    The concept of Web 2.0 is very interesting, because people have interpretted this to mean several different things. The real Web 2.0 is the dynamic exchange of data through the web. This is being done mainly by XML, AJAX, and other data technologies. However this new level of data exchange is also giving birth to a new level of intuitive design that leverages the new abilities of dynamic data. A good example of this is wefeelfine.org.

  • 9 Posted by randfish_seomoz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Gina, how about a little link love for http://web2.0awards.org while you're on the subject? :)

  • 10 Posted by bff_lostcause on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Whenever I am asked about web2.0 and the 'old' version of the web, the only thing I can answer is this - Web2.0 is a buzzword that refers to a site working more for you, than you for it. google.com/ig, live.com, myspace, flickr, etc., all work for a user, instead of you searching out every conceivable piece to put it together. The idea that Web2.0 is any large technology and more than a buzzword makes it seem so much more than what it is. Web2.0 is based on these few fundamentals: 1)Allow users more flexability 2)Pages, and by extension, navigation must work for the user 3)Inline and dynamic actions using iframes and AJAX are present including data changing without a page reload, inline file uploading, dynamic for validation, async communications(emailing, guestbook and forum postings, basic chat systems), widget/portlet design, etc. Applications using these ideas are googleMaps, YahooMaps, flickr, myspace, live.com, google.com/ig, basecamp, etc. They are what the old Mapquest,geocities, msn.com and MSOffice were. Now, many users can use MSOffice capabilities without owning Office. Now, there are inline form validators, making page loading completely a historical act thereby saving and cutting time from a user's experience. Now, where messenger was a grand communications tool, myspace and inline chat systems can allow a user to not be forced to install ANY software, but get the same look, feel, flexibility and functionality of those apps. It also allows users on mobiles to only open a browser, rather than download even more software on small mobileHDs. Web2.0 can also be a historical mark where web entities are actually making MS nervous enough to start adopting some technologies as 'their new thing'. Google and Yahoo now have MS trying to run advertising services similar to them, as well as being in bidding to attain certain web apps for integration in their family of sites. Just my take on it all. Web2.0 is a keyword, and a mrk in the history of the web. Looking back, our kids will laugh and sy it was more of a public interest in AJAX than anything, but, as for now, it seems to be an escalation in the version of certain business, social and entertainment areas on the web and of applications competing against those web entities.

  • 11 Posted by steveua on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'sm sorry Gina, but Encyclopdias are also human-updated on a regular basis as well. It's just that an entry's factuality is actually verified and authenticated (by another human being) prior to publication. What the heck is the point of having a reference source that you cannot trust? I hate it when people reference wickipedia entries - any doofus can past any bit of wackadoo misinformation, and they often do. To me, it shows that they are lazy and unwilling to perform the kind of research that is required of a an actual journalist.

  • 12 Posted by ytech_ginahughes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    You're right steveua, I meant updated more frequently by various contributors. It's true, anyone can edit a wikipedia, and so there is a lot of room for inaccuracies. I've corrected the statement. Thanks;)

  • 13 Posted by dgtlanrkst on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    http://www.livelocker.com is a great example of web 2.0 in action.

  • 15 Posted by evilwaldo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Nobody does Yongsikji. I would like to know where you can download the alpha or beta version. Did I miss an upgrade from Web 1.0? Was there a service pack update or version 1.1?

  • 16 Posted by jeck_wizard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a developer perspective of the release of WEB 2.0. Many IDEs' made prior modules for that, like for example Netbeans(http://www.netbeans.org), Elipse and Others that you can name. Some developed some framework that developers can tweak-along, like for example the Jmaki framework that simplifies AJAX development.

  • 18 Posted by jeck_wizard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Addition to my post(not meant to flood this comment column) I think Web 2.0 is a web technology that users can use to process information easily and fast; most of features is much closer to our native or standalone apps that we use in our everyday computing lives.

  • 20 Posted by dominiosidn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    i agree Web 2 is a buzzword like very few others, but it represents a movement of great creativity. for me, many flash websites are a great example of web2, an extraordinary example of interactivity with the visitors.

  • 21 Posted by mrrubber@pacbell.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds like Web 2.0 is nothing more than what Web 1.0 already is. There is nothing really there to protect against SPAM, viruses or identity theft. SOS, too bad...

  • 22 Posted by marcseg@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Everyone shouldn't play a part. We are already too close to the point that the opinion of a high school dropout is perceived to be as important as the opinion of a biologist with regards to specific issues....for example bird flu.

  • 23 Posted by michaelmelendez@verizon.net on Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    As a Web & Graphic Designer and Owner of www.polygonstreetstudios.tk, Web Designing is based on your vision and creativity. There are alot of great sites out there from designers that are unknown.

  • 24 Posted by rogmj007 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I believe this is an opportunity for companies to begin charging for many of the services that are currently free. We already pay just to have access to the web. Now, we will pay for the sites we visit. They will offer "New and Improved" services. However, to continue using them, we will have pay a "nominal" free. Eventually, this will continue to widen the digital divide between the have's and the have not's. There is no free lunch and neither will Web 2.0. Just look at our choices for television and radio. In order to have a similance of variety we have to pay for those services.

  • 25 Posted by whitemocha@verizon.net on Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    Im impressed with this artical, and love the links to Web 2 assiciated websites. Techcrunch is a good one. I hope to hear lots more about the evolution of the WWW.

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.