Wikipedia

Wikipedia
Version 1 by Nohat (concept by Paullusmagnus); Wikimedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Wikipedia
Caption	Screenshot of Wikipedia's main page
Url	[https://www.wikipedia.org www.wikipedia.org]
Type	Online encyclopedia
Registration	Optional
Language	Multilingual
Owner	Wikimedia Foundation
Creator	Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger
Launch date	January 15, 2001

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that allows its users to edit and contribute to its content, with the goal of creating a comprehensive and accurate repository of knowledge. Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger on January 15, 2001, Wikipedia has grown to become one of the largest and most popular websites in the world, with over 50 million articles in hundreds of languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese. Wikipedia is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Jimmy Wales and supported by donations from individuals and organizations such as the Ford Foundation, Google, and Microsoft. The website has become an essential resource for people around the world, including students, researchers, and journalists from Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT, as well as BBC News, The New York Times, and Al Jazeera.

History of Wikipedia

The history of Wikipedia began on January 15, 2001, when Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger launched the website, with the goal of creating a free online encyclopedia that could be edited by anyone. The first article, Hello, World!, was created on January 15, 2001, and the website quickly gained popularity, with the number of articles growing rapidly. In the early days, Wikipedia faced challenges such as vandalism and inaccuracy, but the community of editors and administrators worked to address these issues and establish policies and guidelines to ensure the quality and reliability of the content. Wikipedia has been recognized for its impact on the world, including being awarded the Erasmus Prize in 2015, and has been praised by Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis for its contributions to education and knowledge sharing. The website has also been used by NASA, European Space Agency, and CERN to share information about their research and projects.

Features of Wikipedia

Wikipedia has several features that make it a unique and useful resource, including its vast collection of articles, which cover a wide range of topics, from science and history to entertainment and culture. The website also includes features such as wikilinks, which allow users to navigate between related articles, and categories, which help to organize and structure the content. Wikipedia also has a robust system of templates and infoboxes, which provide additional information and context about the topics covered. The website is also available in many languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Japanese, making it a valuable resource for people around the world, including those in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Wikipedia has been used by UNESCO, World Health Organization, and International Committee of the Red Cross to share information and promote education and awareness about important global issues.

Content Policies

Wikipedia has a set of content policies that govern the creation and editing of articles, including the policy of neutral point of view, which requires that articles be written in a neutral and impartial tone. The website also has a policy of verifiability, which requires that information be supported by reliable sources, such as The New York Times, BBC News, and Al Jazeera. Additionally, Wikipedia has a policy of original research, which prohibits the inclusion of original research or unpublished information in articles. These policies help to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the content on Wikipedia, and are enforced by the community of editors and administrators, who work to maintain the quality and integrity of the website. The policies have been recognized and praised by Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT, as well as Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Community and Governance

The Wikipedia community is made up of thousands of editors and administrators from around the world, including students, researchers, and experts from Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT. The community is governed by a set of rules and policies, including the five pillars, which outline the fundamental principles of the website. The community also has a system of user rights, which determine the level of access and privileges that users have on the website. The Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts Wikipedia, is governed by a board of trustees, which includes members such as Jimmy Wales, Patricio Lorente, and Maria Sefidari. The foundation is also supported by a network of chapters and user groups, which help to promote and support the website around the world, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The community has been recognized for its contributions to education and knowledge sharing, and has been praised by Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis.

Technical Infrastructure

The technical infrastructure of Wikipedia is based on a combination of open-source software and custom-built tools, including the MediaWiki platform, which was developed by Magnus Manske and Lee Daniel Crocker. The website is hosted on a network of servers located around the world, including in Amsterdam, Ashburn, and Singapore. The website also uses a variety of databases and caching systems to manage and deliver the content, including MySQL and Memcached. The technical infrastructure of Wikipedia is maintained by a team of developers and system administrators, who work to ensure the stability and performance of the website. The infrastructure has been recognized for its scalability and reliability, and has been praised by Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Impact and Reception

The impact of Wikipedia on the world has been significant, with the website becoming an essential resource for people around the world, including students, researchers, and journalists from Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT, as well as BBC News, The New York Times, and Al Jazeera. The website has been recognized for its contributions to education and knowledge sharing, and has been praised by Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, and Pope Francis. Wikipedia has also been the subject of numerous studies and research projects, including those conducted by Harvard University, Stanford University, and MIT. The website has also been recognized for its impact on the digital divide, and has been praised by UNESCO, World Health Organization, and International Committee of the Red Cross for its efforts to promote education and awareness about important global issues. Wikipedia has received numerous awards and recognition, including the Erasmus Prize in 2015, and has been named one of the most influential websites in the world by Time Magazine and The Guardian.