Wikipedia is a free-content online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers through open collaboration and a wiki-based editing system. It is the largest and most-read reference work in history, consistently ranked among the most popular websites. Created by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger on January 15, 2001, it is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, an American non-profit organization. Wikipedia's fundamental principles are summarized in its 'Five Pillars': it is an encyclopedia, it writes from a neutral point of view, it is free content that anyone can use, edit, and distribute, it has a code of conduct for editors, and it does not have firm rules. Available in over 300 languages, it serves as a widely accessible aggregation of human knowledge.
Discussions related to Wikipedia
Wiki Context
Overview
Overview / Introduction
An introduction defining Wikipedia, its purpose, core principles, and its place within the free knowledge movement and the Wikimedia ecosystem.
History / Origins
A chronological account of Wikipedia's founding, early growth, key technological and community milestones, and its evolution into a global reference.
Core Concepts / Fundamentals
Exploration of Wikipedia's fundamental operating principles, including the 'five pillars', policies of verifiability and neutral point of view, and the wiki model of collaboration.
Structure / Anatomy / Components
A detailed breakdown of Wikipedia's technical and social architecture, including software, article structure, governance models, and the role of administrators and editors.
Types / Classifications
Categorization of Wikipedia's content and projects, covering its different language editions, sister projects like Wiktionary and Wikisource, and content quality grading systems.
Applications / Use Cases
Analysis of Wikipedia's real-world impact and usage in education, research, technology, and as a cultural phenomenon, alongside its reliability as an information source.
Criticism / Controversies / Limitations
Discussion of major criticisms and challenges facing Wikipedia, such as systemic bias, reliability concerns, vandalism, editorial disputes, and information gaps.
Future Directions / Research
Examination of emerging trends, ongoing research, and future challenges for Wikipedia, including AI integration, knowledge equity initiatives, and long-term sustainability.