The Internet - Web2.0 to Web3.0 and The Key Difference.

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers that communicate with each other using standardized protocols. The key concepts in this definition are Network, Connection, Communication, and Standardized Protocols. In today's world, there is hardly any form of information transfer without the Internet: instant messaging, email messaging, financial transactions, music streaming, cryptocurrency trading, and online data download.

The Rules howbeit and protocols that oversee the operations of the Internet are consistent and well-structured. A network of Computers globally is instituted through employing optical Fibre cables and satellite connections. For a single computer or device to access this network, it has to go through an internet service provider which acts as the buffer between the user and the internet. An important aspect of the internet until recent times has been the concept of Servers. These systems oversee the storage, distribution, and overall management of data used and transferred over the Internet. There are also entities called web clients - software applications that access information from the web.

The key transitional difference between Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 is the use of technologies like Blockchains, and not Servers to record and manage data used and exchanged over the internet. The operational architecture and organization of servers are set up such that, its activities are centralized and overseen by a single entity - the owners of the server. So when one’s information is stored or sent to a server, one has less authority over how such information is handled. This article is written and deployed on hashnode.com, which is in turn hosted on a server. When you leave a comment on this piece, you do not do it directly. Rather, it is sent to the server, and the server renders it to the author and other users. Without the collection, storage, and rendering done by the server, none of these stated activities will be executed. And since everything is done on or through the server - a single entity - this kind of internet interaction is largely centralized and rigid.

However, the emergence of blockchains and other decentralized technologies greatly addresses the issue of user autonomy, rigidity, and concentration of power and decisions in just one place. The operational setup of Web 3.0 utilizes a network of several computers across the globe, linked together to record, store, and manage data. In this case, direct interaction and transaction known as peer-to-peer network is made possible without the involvement of a third party. Hence, internet users bring their properties to the network and exchange them directly. Thereby maintaining more autonomy and controlling how one’s data is used.

Most of our traditional internet interactions are done on Web 2.0. The chat between you and your older sister on Whatsapp, and the posts and comments on a Facebook page are all server-centered interactions. These commands are instituted as requests to the server, and the server responds appropriately based on its design and intended function. In recent times, the transfer of tokens from one non-custodial wallet to another is an example of a Web 3.0 interaction. In simpler terms, 2 users get on the network and interact directly without having to send a request to a central entity.

Centralization and Decentralization are the key concepts that underpin the operations of Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 respectively. Both Networks have their rules and protocols for connectivity, communication, and exchange. The Internet is evolving rapidly. Don’t be left behind.