A simple framework for understanding Web3 vs. Web2 technology

Lately, there has been a lot of buzz about “Web 3.0,” much like in the early days of “Web 2.0.” Both of these terms are buzzwords used to encompass a collection of novel phenomena on the web. They can be misleading in the sense that the web is constantly evolving and does not “upgrade” all at once from one version to another. However, periods of rapid development can represent an inflection point in its evolution. 

In the case of Web 2.0, the developments were mainly on the user side — some key differences included the shift toward users as first-class entities with prominent profile pages, the ability to form connections between many users, the ability to post content in many forms, and technical advancements such as internal messaging systems and public APIs.