Wikipedia: How It Works, Who Owns It, and More
Wikipedia is one of the most popular and widely used websites in the world, with more than 56 million articles in over 300 languages. It is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, covering topics ranging from history and science to culture and entertainment. But how does Wikipedia work, and what are the latest updates and developments on this collaborative project?
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| Photo Credit: Wikipedia |
How Wikipedia Works
Wikipedia is based on the principle of wikis, which are websites that allow users to create and modify content collaboratively. Anyone with an internet connection can create a Wikipedia account and start editing articles, adding new information, correcting errors, or creating new pages. However, not all edits are accepted automatically. Wikipedia has a system of editors and administrators who review the changes and ensure that they follow the policies and guidelines of the website. These policies include verifiability, which means that all information must be supported by reliable sources; neutrality, which means that all viewpoints must be presented fairly and without bias; and no original research, which means that all content must be based on published sources and not on personal opinions or interpretations.
Wikipedia also has a system of peer review, where articles can be evaluated by other editors for their quality and accuracy. Articles that meet the highest standards of quality are awarded the status of featured articles, which are displayed on the main page of Wikipedia. Articles that need improvement or expansion are marked as stubs or start-class articles, which invite other editors to contribute.
Wikipedia: Latest Updates and Developments
Wikipedia is constantly evolving and improving, thanks to the efforts of its community of editors, administrators, developers, and donors. Some of the recent updates and developments on Wikipedia include:
In June 2023, Wikipedia celebrated its 22nd anniversary, with a special logo and a message from its founder, Jimmy Wales. Wales thanked the millions of volunteers who have contributed to Wikipedia over the years and encouraged more people to join the project. He also announced that Wikipedia has reached a new milestone of 10 billion page views per month, making it one of the most visited websites in the world.
In May 2023, Wikipedia launched a new feature called WikiLoop, which allows users to browse through random articles on different topics. The feature is designed to help users discover new information and learn something new every day. Users can also rate the articles they read, share them with others, or add them to their watchlist for future reference.
In April 2023, Wikipedia introduced a new tool called WikiGraph, which allows users to visualize the connections between different articles on Wikipedia. The tool uses a graph-based algorithm to generate interactive maps of related topics, based on the links and categories in each article. Users can explore the maps by zooming in and out, clicking on nodes, or searching for specific terms. The tool also provides statistics on the number of articles, links, and categories in each map.
In March 2023, Wikipedia announced a new partnership with Google, which will provide free access to Google Translate for Wikipedia editors. The partnership aims to improve the quality and diversity of content on Wikipedia, by enabling editors to translate articles from one language to another with ease. The partnership will also benefit users who want to read articles in languages they do not speak, by providing automatic translations on demand.
Conclusion
Wikipedia is a remarkable example of how collective intelligence and collaboration can create a valuable resource for humanity. It is also a dynamic and innovative project that continues to grow and improve with new features and developments. Wikipedia is not only a source of information, but also a source of inspiration for anyone who wants to learn more about the world.
FAQs Answered:-
What is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is an online free-content encyclopedia that anyone can edit and contribute to. It covers topics ranging from history and science to culture and entertainment. Wikipedia is based on the principle of wikis, which are websites that allow users to create and modify content collaboratively. Wikipediaโs goal is to bring knowledge to everyone who seeks it
Who owns Wikipedia?
Wikipediaโs tech framework is supported by the Wikimedia Foundation, which also supports Wikipediaโs sister projects, such as Wiktionary, Wikibooks, and others, and owns all of their domain names. The Wikimedia Foundation is a non-profit organization that relies on donations from users and sponsors. However, the content on Wikipedia is created and maintained by a community of volunteers, who follow the policies and guidelines of the website. These policies include verifiability, neutrality, and no original research
How do you know if the information is correct?
Wikipedia does not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of its content, as it can be edited by anyone at any time. However, Wikipedia has a system of editors and administrators who review the changes and ensure that they follow the policies and guidelines of the website. Editors can also use tools such as citations, references, and reliable sources to support the information they add or modify. Users can also check the history and talk pages of each article to see how it has been edited and discussed over time
How do you prevent people from ruining articles?
Wikipedia has a system of protection and reversion to prevent or undo vandalism, which is the deliberate addition of false or harmful information to articles. Protection means that only certain users, such as administrators or registered editors, can edit a page for a certain period of time. Reversion means that any user can undo an edit that they think is vandalism, by using the undo or rollback buttons on the history page. Wikipedia also has a system of warnings and blocks to discourage or stop users who repeatedly vandalize articles
How big is Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is one of the largest and most popular websites in the world, with more than 56 million articles in over 300 languages. As of June 2023, Wikipedia has reached a new milestone of 10 billion page views per month, making it one of the most visited websites in the world. Wikipedia also has more than 40 million registered users, including more than 4 million active editors, who have made more than 1 billion edits since its inception in 2001.
What is the website address / URL of Wikipedia?
To Visit The Wikipedia Website Click Here: Wikipedia
