What Is Web 3.0?

Date First Published: 8th October 2022

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 7/10

Learn more about what Web 3.0 is in this article.

Web 3.0 is a newer version of Web 2.0 that enables more advanced interaction between devices and users. There is no standardised definition of it, but it has features, like artificial intelligence, decentralisation, and trustless and permissionless communication. It uses artificial intelligence to understand its user and personalise everything. For example, if someone is looking on a search engine for a file storage service where they can store all of their documents into a 'drive' and access them from the internet by logging into their account, it is necessary for the user to look through a lot of search results and compare different options, which will take a long time. Web 3.0 intelligently makes personalised and accurate suggestions based on the user's settings and preferences.

Usually, computers use HTTP to find information that is stored on a fixed location, such as a web server, but Web 3.0 has decentralisation features which will allow applications and services to be enabled in a distributed method and stored in multiple locations without a central authority, breaking down large databases held by companies, such as Google. This also gives users more control over their data and prevents one company from storing too much data at once. Tim-Berners Lee explained the decentralisation concept in 1990. He said that: "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."

Web 3.0 is also designed to be trustless, meaning that the network will allow users to interact directly without going through a trusted intermediary and permissionless, meaning that anyone can participate without authorisation from a governing body. This means that Web 3.0 applications will run on blockchains or several peer-to-peer networks. Overall, it goes beyond user-generated content, social networking sites, and online stores that make up most interactive Web 2.0 applications. However, decentralisation and permissionless systems will make it harder to prevent cyberbullying, cybercrime, misinformation, and other malicious activities due to a lack of central control. It is very difficult to determine which laws of a country would apply to a website whose content is hosted in multiple countries around the world.