What Is Web 1.0?

Web 1.0 is a term that is often used to describe the early version of the internet, which had its origins in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and eventually became a global network that represented, at the time, the future of all digital communication. Web 1.0 describes the first version of what eventually became a growing and evolving medium that expanded into a platform with many functionalities.

This early version of the internet had web pages that were joined by hyperlinks. These web pages did not have any of the visual qualities, controls and forms that we might see when we use the internet today. Web 1.0. Is thus often referred to as the read-only web, which is a web that was not yet interactive. The web user was passive and much of the user input actually took place offline. 

A fun fact about Web 1.0 is the fact that it did not appear as a term until Web 2.0 was coined in 199 by Darci DiNucci. Over the course of these years, the web underwent major transformations. Keep in mind that most websites were originally built as static HTML pages.

Some typical Web 1.0 characteristics included static pages, website content stored in files, proprietary HTML tags, a guestbook, the e-mailing of forms, etc. In summary, Web 1.0 sites were static, were not yet interactive and its applications were proprietary. 

The transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 occurred over time as servers were upgraded and its creators developed new skills, concepts and techniques. In addition, the average internet connection speed increased for the mass of the internet’s users.