Web 1.0 to Web 3.0: The Complete Evolution of the Internet Explained with Real-World Platforms
The internet is not a static invention—it is a living system that has continuously evolved in response to technology, user behavior, and economic forces. From simple static web pages to social platforms and now decentralized digital ecosystems, each phase of the web reflects a fundamental shift in how information is created, controlled, and monetized . This article provides a deep, structured, and practical explanation of Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 , highlighting their architecture, philosophy, limitations, and real-world platform examples. Understanding the Three Eras of the Web At a high level, the evolution of the web can be summarized as: Web 1.0: Read-only internet Web 2.0: Read-write, social internet Web 3.0: Read-write-own, decentralized internet Each phase builds on the previous one—but also attempts to fix its weaknesses. Web 1.0: The Read-Only Internet (1990s – Early 2000s) What Was Web 1.0? Web 1.0 represents the first generation of the internet , where websites functi...