What Is The History Of Wikipedia?

#Short Answer

#Infobox

#Overview

Wikipedia is a collaborative online encyclopedia that relies on the contributions of volunteer editors worldwide. Its mission is to provide free access to the sum of all human knowledge. The platform uses a wiki-based system, enabling users to create, modify, and expand articles without requiring specialized technical skills. Wikipedia’s content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license, allowing redistribution and adaptation with proper attribution.

The encyclopedia is divided into language editions, each with its own community of editors and administrative policies. The English Wikipedia, the largest edition, contains over 6.8 million articles. Wikipedia’s model emphasizes neutrality, verifiability, and no original research, ensuring that information is based on reliable sources.

#### Key Features Open Editing: Anyone with internet access can edit most articles.

• Multilingual Support: Articles are available in hundreds of languages.
• No Paywall: All content is freely accessible without subscription fees.
• Citation Requirements: Editors must cite reliable sources to support claims.
• Version History: All changes are logged, allowing users to revert vandalism or errors.

#History / Background

The origins of Wikipedia trace back to the Nupedia, a free online encyclopedia founded by Jimmy Wales in March 2000. Nupedia was written by experts and peer-reviewed, but its slow progress led Wales to seek a more efficient model. In January 2001, he and Larry Sanger launched Wikipedia as a companion project to Nupedia, using a wiki to allow faster content creation.

The name "Wikipedia" combines the words "wiki" (a Hawaiian term for "quick") and "encyclopedia." Initially, Wikipedia operated alongside Nupedia, but by 2003, Nupedia had become inactive, and Wikipedia became the primary project. The Wikimedia Foundation was established in 2003 to manage Wikipedia and its sister projects.

#Early Development

In its first year, Wikipedia grew rapidly, surpassing 20,000 articles by the end of 2001. The platform’s open-editing model attracted both contributors and critics. Some early concerns included the reliability of anonymous edits and the potential for vandalism. To address these issues, Wikipedia introduced policies such as the "Neutral Point of View" (NPOV) and the requirement for citations.

By 2005, Wikipedia had become one of the most visited websites globally, surpassing major news and entertainment sites. Its success led to the creation of the Wikimedia Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting free knowledge projects.

#How It Works

Wikipedia operates on a collaborative editing system where users can create and modify articles. The process involves several key components:

#Editing System

Wikipedia uses a wiki software called MediaWiki, which allows users to edit pages using a simple markup language or a visual editor. Editors can add text, images, references, and links to other articles. All changes are saved in a version history, enabling users to track modifications and revert vandalism.

#Content Policies

Wikipedia’s content policies ensure accuracy and reliability:

• Neutral Point of View (NPOV): Articles must present information fairly and without bias.
• Verifiability: All content must be supported by reliable sources.
• No Original Research: Wikipedia does not publish original theories or unpublished work.
• Notability: Articles must cover topics that are notable and well-documented.

#Administrative Structure

Wikipedia is maintained by a community of volunteers, including administrators, editors, and bureaucrats. Administrators have the ability to delete pages, block users, and protect articles from editing. Bureaucrats can grant administrator status. The community also elects a Board of Trustees to oversee the Wikimedia Foundation.

#Important Facts

#Timeline

1. March 2000
   Nupedia, the precursor to

   Nupedia, the precursor to Wikipedia, is founded by Jimmy Wales.

2. January 15, 2001
   Wikipedia is officially launch

   Wikipedia is officially launched as a side project to Nupedia.

3. September 2001
   Wikipedia surpasses 10,000 art

   Wikipedia surpasses 10,000 articles.

4. January 2002
   Wikipedia introduces the 'Neu

   Wikipedia introduces the 'Neutral Point of View' policy.

5. September 2002
   Wikipedia reaches 100,000 arti

   Wikipedia reaches 100,000 articles.

6. June 2003
   The Wikimedia Foundation is

   The Wikimedia Foundation is established to manage Wikipedia and its sister projects.

7. September 2004
   Wikipedia surpasses 1 million

   Wikipedia surpasses 1 million articles.

8. January 2007
   Wikipedia introduces the 'Fla

   Wikipedia introduces the 'Flagged Revisions' system to review edits.

9. July 2012
   Wikipedia reaches 4 million

   Wikipedia reaches 4 million articles in the English edition.

10. January 2021
    Wikipedia celebrates its 20th

    Wikipedia celebrates its 20th anniversary.

#Related Terms

#FAQ

#References