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Web 2.0 may be a buzzword that has existed for a few years already, but it's still creating a lot of buzz...and disagreement. Experts are still debating about the exact definition of Web 2.0. If you're still feeling confused about it, the following explanations might hopefully make things clear for you.

Essential Characteristics of Web 2.0 Instead of looking for the exact statement that would explain what Web 2.0 is, let's just focus on what makes a website Web 2.0 instead of just Web 1.0.To begin with, let's focus on the common examples provided by most experts. What makes Netscape (Web 1.0) different from Firefox (Web 2.0)? Hotmail from Yahoo Mail? Geocities from Blogger? MP3.com from iTunes? Do you get the picture now? If not then here are several essential characteristics of Web 2.0 that all experts do agree with.

Knowledge-Oriented Environment - Web 2.0 acknowledges the need and power of knowledge. Information is what makes the world go round today - or at least it does in the Internet.User-Generated Content - Now, what matters most is the content that users themselves are not generating. They may not be as professionally packaged or executed as what we've been used to with Web 1.0 websites and applications, but user-generated content also tend to have greater impact on readers.

User-Managed Content - With Web 2.0, users don't just generate content. They manage it as well. They control how, when, and where it's presented as well as who gets to see it. Service-Oriented Architecture - It's all about what a Web 2.0 application can do for you. That's why Web 2.0 applications tend to offer as many features as possible and expand continuously.

Human Interaction - Web 2.0 also acknowledges and makes use of human interaction. It is why social bookmarking and social networking sites are incredibly popular with people nowadays.Doesn't Fight the Internet - Web 2.0 learned from its predecessor, Web 1.0, not to fight with the Internet. Rather than force the Internet to make itself suitable to the services required by a particular application, Web 2.0 takes advantage instead of the inherent advantages of the Internet. Its global audiences should be seen, for instance, as a benefit rather than a disadvantage.

Syndication - Web 2.0 makes great use of syndication. Syndication refers to the various processes used by websites to make their content available and accessible, preferably in digest form, with other users and websites for several purposes. RSS feeds and podcasting are just a few ways of syndicating content.

Innovation - Web 2.0 embraces innovation in all its stages. It is why web 2.0 is defined as to be in a stage of "perpetual beta": not a day passes by wherein software developers continue to find ways to improve their products and services.

Web 2.0 is used to describe websites and applications that have taken their services to the next level. If that's too vague then just think of Web 2.0 as the improvements you've been enjoying for the past few years, the significant differences between Yahoo Mail (Web 2.0) and Hotmail (Web 1.0), Wikipedia vs. Encarta, and Google vs. AltaVista just to name a few.

Objectives of Web 2.0 Innovation - Web 2.0 developers are continuously looking for ways to improve their services. That's why Web 2.0 is often characterized as something in a state of perpetual beta: it's constantly undergoing changes meant to improve its current features and services. Instead of placing all new features in one brand new package or version for their websites, Web 2.0 developers just add the features to the current line as soon as they're created. Users become real-time testers and because of this, web developers are also able to have a more idea of the effectiveness and popularity of the latest batch of improvements.

Multiple Device Accessibility - Another important goal of Web 2.0 developers is to make its website or application accessible for as many devices as possible. Aware of the ever-increasing need of people to stay connected and the continuous use of mobile devices, web 2.0 developers sought to create a link between other devices beside the computer and their products and services. Their efforts have paid off in the end. Now, you get to see many people preferring websites or applications that they're able to access and operate even with just their mobile phones or personal digital assistants.

Web 2.0 developers also strive to make as many features available across devices. If in the past you could only use your mobile phone to read messages in your email inbox, today's gadgets and mobile technology now let you do more than that. Besides viewing messages, you can also compose formatted replies and attach images and other files with it. Focus on Users - Web 2.0 seeks to improve user experience with their products and services. This goal thus requires the power of control to shift from software developers to the end-users themselves. Web 2.0 lets end users take command and contrary to past expectations, they're able to benefit rather than suffer from it.

Web 2.0 lets users create their own data. They also let users manage their own data: control how they're presented as well as when and where they're visible. Web 2.0 also lets users share their data in as many ways possible. They can be syndicated through RSS and blog feeds and podcasting. They are also allowed to use different formats for their data.

There are numerous examples to show how Web 2.0 allows this to happen. With Wikipedia, users create and add wikis to the website. With Digg, users are allowed to bookmark the websites they personally favor. With MySpace, users are allowed to create their own networks.

Interaction - One more objective for Web 2.0 is to make users and the website or application itself benefit from user interaction. A blog entry which receives many comments can help increase the popularity of the blog owner and the website itself. Bookmarks offer the same benefit as well. Information - Last but not the least, Web 2.0 does its best to find more creative uses for information. Data is now the most important commodity in the Internet and Web 2.0 does its best to make data work for users such as how it does in Wikipedia and Google.

Web 2.0 is used to describe websites and applications that have taken their services to the next level. If that's too vague then just think of Web 2.0 as the improvements you've been enjoying for the past few years, the significant differences between Yahoo Mail (Web 2.0) and Hotmail (Web 1.0), Wikipedia vs. Encarta, and Google vs. AltaVista just to name a few. Objectives of Web 2.0 Innovation - Web 2.0 developers are continuously looking for ways to improve their services.

That's why Web 2.0 is often characterized as something in a state of perpetual beta: it's constantly undergoing changes meant to improve its current features and services. Instead of placing all new features in one brand new package or version for their websites, Web 2.0 developers just add the features to the current line as soon as they're created. Users become real-time testers and because of this, web developers are also able to have a more idea of the effectiveness and popularity of the latest batch of improvements. Multiple Device Accessibility - Another important goal of Web 2.0 developers is to make its website or application accessible for as many devices as possible. Aware of the ever-increasing need of people to stay connected and the continuous use of mobile devices, web 2.0 developers sought to create a link between other devices beside the computer and their products and services.

Their efforts have paid off in the end. Now, you get to see many people preferring websites or applications that they're able to access and operate even with just their mobile phones or personal digital assistants. Web 2.0 developers also strive to make as many features available across devices. If in the past you could only use your mobile phone to read messages in your email inbox, today's gadgets and mobile technology now let you do more than that. Besides viewing messages, you can also compose formatted replies and attach images and other files with it. Focus on Users - Web 2.0 seeks to improve user experience with their products and services.This goal thus requires the power of control to shift from software developers to the end-users themselves.

Web 2.0 lets end users take command and contrary to past expectations, they're able to benefit rather than suffer from it. Web 2.0 lets users create their own data. They also let users manage their own data: control how they're presented as well as when and where they're visible. Web 2.0 also lets users share their data in as many ways possible. They can be syndicated through RSS and blog feeds and podcasting. They are also allowed to use different formats for their data. There are numerous examples to show how Web 2.0 allows this to happen. With Wikipedia, users create and add wikis to the website.

With Digg, users are allowed to bookmark the websites they personally favor. With MySpace, users are allowed to create their own networks. Interaction - One more objective for Web 2.0 is to make users and the website or application itself benefit from user interaction. A blog entry which receives many comments can help increase the popularity of the blog owner and the website itself. Bookmarks offer the same benefit as well. Information - Last but not the least, Web 2.0 does its best to find more creative uses for information. Data is now the most important commodity in the Internet and Web 2.0 does its best to make data work for users such as how it does in Wikipedia and Google.

Web 2.0 has been around for quite some time already but it was only with the birth of its term that people started paying attention to it and, yes, squabbling over it. Maybe, some things are better left unnamed. Nevertheless, Web 2.0 is evidently here to stay and whether that's good or bad depends on which side of the fence you're standing on.

SECURITY In terms of security, Web 2.0 may still have a few things to learn from its predecessor, the aptly named Web 1.0. Web 1.0 applications and websites may have far more than dos and don'ts with regard to who gets what kind of access to which information but at least it was effective in keeping the bad guys away. Web 2.0 on the other hand thrives on hackability. That doesn't mean it wants to be hacked by the wrong people but rather, it is the way it is because it lets end users not only take control of their content but it even lets them modify the codes being used for the application itself.

ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY OF DATA

Most of the criticisms for Web 2.0 center on these two attributes of data. The biggest problem many academics have with Web 2.0 would be none other than Wikipedia. The latter is a website best known for being a free online encyclopedia made up of user-generated entries. Academics consider Wikipedia as poor reference because its data has been provided by users without the necessary "scholarly qualifications" to do so.There is a grain of truth in their accusations but it is if course unreasonable to taint all entries in Wikipedia with the same brush. There are numerous entries, in fact, that have been credibly researched on and supported with verifiable and reliable sources.

Another part of Web 2.0 that has drawn criticism would be blogging. Some people are disturbed with how users may use data they have found in blogs and consider them as factual or accurate.ACCESSIBILITY In this case, Web 2.0 thankfully has something positive to offer. Unlike Web 1.0 applications, Web 2.0 offers products and services that are designed to offer as much functionality and convenience as possible even when being accessed with devices other than the computer. Web 2.0 allows users to not just access but manage as well the products and services they commonly come across with their computers at home or work.

Web 2.0 seeks to incorporate features that would make their websites and applications user-friendly even if smaller than usual screens and limited navigation options are utilized.