The Difference Between Web 2 and Web 3
Tags: web3, webdev, development, blockchain
Published: 2024-06-03 11:32:32

We have all been using the internet for decades. But then we hear a new term, Web 3.0, which is highly populated among every other guy we know. Everyone was talking about it, how it's going to change everything, and why one should move from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. 

However, before you take any decision to move to Web 3.0, don't you think it's necessary to clear the fundamentals? That's why we are here to help you with learning about Web 2 and Web 3 and the difference between them. 

As a result, you will know the pros and cons of both, helping you decide whether to migrate to Web 3.0 or remain at Web 2.0. 
So, let’s get started. 

## Web 2.0: A Complete Brief 
Currently, we’re in the era of Web 2.0, which is extremely evolved and better than Web 1.0. 

In Web 2.0, people are able to create, share, and consume a lot of content, which helps to build communities, grow online businesses, stream services, and more. In addition, a number of technologies are available for every use case, such as: 

* To create business applications 
* To automate machineries 
* To have an IoT network anywhere
* To access devices remotely 
* To conduct complex calculations within minutes 

However, in Web 2.0, the main concern is data. It seems to be secured, but in reality, it’s not as it seems. The individual's data is in the hands of organizations whose services we are using. For instance, you utilize a mailing platform, so your data is in their hands. You are dependent on their system to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of your information. 

### The Pros of Web 2.0 
Following are the top pros of Web 2.0 that we leverage on a daily basis. 

* Web 2.0 has dynamic websites and applications that can be accessed using multiple browsers and devices. Also, the software solutions have clickable icons, animations, screen-adapting capabilities, real-time data processing, and more. 

* It supports communication with others through multiple channels, such as chat, video conferencing, internet calling, and social media platforms. 

* The technologies belonging to the Web 2.0 era aid in creating, sharing, and supporting large content files, leading to building digital communities. 

* Web 2.0 is highly user-friendly, and even websites can be built through a few clicks and within half an hour. 

### Cons of Web 2.0
Along with the pros, there are also some cons with Web 2.0 that must be known for better clarification. 

* Data availability is the prime concern of Web 2.0. It’s based on centralized servers, meaning that overloaded traffic can cause crashes and permanent data deletion. In addition, even if cloud infrastructures are used, there's still a possibility of server crashes because, in reality, clouds are also physical servers but at different locations. 
* Data security is also a major concern in Web 2.0. If the attackers breach a centralized server, the entire data is leaked, and integrity is exploited on the spot. 
* The users don't have any ownership of their data. The big giants collect information through different means and utilize it for their personal gains. The terms and conditions written in those long paragraphs and small fonts are just to avoid legal charges, nothing else. 
* Along with data, the ownership to display information is also in the hands of giant companies. The domains can be owned within minutes, websites can be blocked, traffic can be diverted, and other activities exploiting censorship are easily executed in Web 2.0. 

## Web 3.0: A Brief Insight 
As the name depicts, Web 3.0 is obviously the newer and updated version of the World Wide Web. It's also referred to as the decentralized or semantic web, as most of Web 3.0 is based on blockchain technology. 

Each individual in Web 3.0 has control and ownership over their data. They understand how their data is being processed and stored for a specific operation. It's more like a democracy, where everyone has a right to say so that appropriate decisions can be made. In addition, ownership and identity are the two main pillars that hold Web 3.0 strong. 

Furthermore, it's similar to Web 2.0 in terms of content creation. The main difference is the decentralization of all the processes. Also, it allows people to buy and sell digital products in the real world. Yes, you read that right: with Web 3.0, digital assets have a high value in real-world use cases. 

The most common examples of Web 3.0 are cryptocurrency, initial coin offerings, NFTs, metaverse, AI, ML, and more. 

### The Pros of Web 3.0
Web 3.0 is getting adopted quickly by Fortune 1000 companies due to its exceptional advantages, as listed below. 

* The entire Web 3.0 is decentralized, meaning that every person has ownership of their data. Unlike Web 2.0, no single company is going to have any control over anybody’s information. 
* It's making the World Wide Web more transparent, as most of the communications are going to be peer-to-peer. The middleman is going to be eliminated. You will know who is sending and receiving the information. 
* The applications will be more platform-compatible and decentralized. It’ll facilitate more robust data security. Also, rapid app development will be supported, enabling organizations to digitize their operations within the minimal time possible. 

### The Cons of Web 3.0
As Web 3.0 is still being developed, below are some of its cons that you should know about. 

* The complexity of Web 3.0 is quite high. Due to this, highly skilled professionals and large investments are required to implement it. 
* Currently, it lacks scalability and is unable to handle large volume traffic. Thus, if the number of users increases, the performance will fall down. 
* There's a possibility of money laundering and fraud, as it's difficult to comply with regulatory and security standards on a blockchain-based network. 
* The cryptocurrency market is quite fragile, and it's not currently considered a legal mode of payment. Due to this, Web 3 is lagging behind, and people are not able to trust its network. 

## Web 2 vs Web 3: The Battle Begins 
Let’s have a look at the differential table of Web 2 vs Web 3. Undergoing the table will help you have a quick grasp of the fundamental differentiations. 

![Web 2 vs web 3 table](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/9wdzgtmwnimk8utskizz.png)

## Concluding Up: Which is Better Among Web 2 and Web 3? 
Web 2 and Web 3 are completely opposite of each other. Where Web 2 is centralized, Web 3 is a decentralized tech based on blockchain. However, according to the current market, Web 2.0 is going to continue for some more years, as Web 3.0 lacks some fundamental requirements. 

Once Web 3 starts complying with defined standards, has appropriate security controls, and becomes more stable and scalable, then it’ll be the right time to fully adapt it. Concludingly, Web 2 is a winner as per the current use case, but the future is based on Web 3.0.