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February 3, 2023

What is Web 3.0? The Ultimate Guide to Web3

What is Web 3.0? It's the latest iteration of the web and in this guide, you’ll learn all about it and what this means for the future of the web.

If you’ve been in any digital space, then you might be wondering what Web 3.0 is, and what are Web 3.0 examples. 

What are Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0?

What is web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0? These are different generations of the World Wide Web that developed over the years. 

What is Web 1.0?

Web 1.0, the first version of the Web, was the static web. This meant that it only included read-only webpages for users to consume information. There wasn’t much to interact with other than to browse published web pages. 

What is Web 2.0?

The Web changed drastically with the second version, Web 2.0, in 2004. This became the dynamic web and it meant that the World Wide Web not only allowed users to read published websites but also allowed them to “write” information on the web. This allowed user-generated content to be published online. 

This level of interactivity ushered in a new wave of innovation as Youtube was launched in 2005 and social network applications like Facebook started to gain traction. 

What is Web 3.0?

This is the latest iteration of the World Wide Web and it is currently a work in progress. Web 3.0 is the third major version of the World Wide Web known as the Semantic Web, focusing on machine-readable data, semantic markup, and meaning. 

The Semantic Web extends beyond human readability to include data that can be processed by machines to make it more easily understandable by humans. This was proposed by Tim Berners-Lee. However, currently Web 3.0’s definition extends beyond that.

This version of the internet builds on the innovations of its predecessors and it is focused on decentralization with the help of blockchain technology. 

What Is the Impact of Web 3.0?

The main benefit of decentralization is that we can have a better internet with no censorship and no data collection. It would also be much easier for people to share information without having a central authority controlling everything. 

Cryptocurrency

When asking what 3.0 is, cryptocurrency must come up in association with the new web. This is because cryptocurrency is a decentralized digital currency. It isn’t controlled by a central authority like a bank. 

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

Cards of different media on the blockchain

Web 3.0 will host decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) which are blockchain-based and Internet-native structures. These are rules written in code with terms defined in a smart contract that is enforced on a blockchain. DAOs are models of governance and incentive structures that would ensure users are in control of their data.

Decentralized Applications (DApps)

Web 3.0 applications will not be controlled by a centralized authority like Meta or Google, which have data hosted on centralized servers. DApps are blockchain-based and give users access based on a smart contract. 

What are Web 3.0 Examples of Applications?

Web 3.0 applications are currently in use and you may be using some of these applications without realizing it.

  • Brave Browser is one of the most popular Web 3.0 applications. Its core features are built around privacy and protection from cookies and trackers. it also offers users rewards in the form of its token, incentivizing the use of the browser.
  • OpenSea is an NFT e-commerce marketplace built on the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to mint and trade NFTs.

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We’ve seen a rise in machine learning and AI recently because it allows us to use machines to process large amounts of data and subsequently generate knowledge from that data. For example, Natural Language Processing (NLP) allows a chatbot to understand what website users are asking and generate answers based on content and context.

Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs)

NFTs are digital assets that are minted on a blockchain to certify authenticity. Each NFT is unique, or “non-fungible”. This means NFTs are unlike a single one-dollar bill, which is fungible (one dollar is identical to another dollar in the same currency).

Join the Web 3.0 Revolution

Web 3.0 is not just a new version of the internet, it is a completely new way of interacting with information and with other people. If you’re interested in learning more about Web 3.0 and NFTs, then our NFT masterclass is a great place to start.

Start your NFT journey!