While Web1 was focused on making information accessible to the public, Web2 — the current version of the internet we know today — is about creating and contributing. It has become the basis for the commercialisation of the internet, spawning significant applications, such as e-commerce, social media, and virtual communication platforms.
Web2 is occasionally referred to as the participative (or participatory) web, social web, or ‘read-write’ web, and this second generation of web services places a heavy emphasis on interaction, interoperability, and connectivity. It is also much more user-friendly and dynamic in comparison with Web1.
Characteristics of Web2 include centralisation; responsive, dynamic content; a wide variety of applications and interaction-based technologies like AJAX, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3; high levels of user participation and user-generated content; interoperability across different services and mproved user interface and user experience from Web1; seamless communication; and proliferation of companies that provide services in exchange for personal data.
Applications include social media, blogging, voting, tagging, social bookmarking, and podcasting. Examples include
