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Comprehensive Guide to Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free, multilingual online encyclopedia, launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Owned by the Wikimedia Foundation, it is collaboratively written and maintained by a global volunteer community. Its mission is to provide free access to the sum of all human knowledge, making it the largest and most-read reference work.
Key Takeaways
Wikipedia is a free, volunteer-driven online encyclopedia.
It operates in 342 languages, owned by Wikimedia Foundation.
Content adheres to strict policies like NPOV and verifiability.
Community faces challenges like bias and editor attrition.
It is the largest, most-read reference work globally.
What is Wikipedia's core identity and mission?
Wikipedia is a free, multilingual online encyclopedia, launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Owned by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, it is collaboratively written and maintained by a global volunteer community. Its mission is to provide free access to the sum of all human knowledge, operating non-commercially with content licensed under CC Attribution / Share-Alike 4.0.
- Online encyclopedia, 342 languages.
- Owned by Wikimedia Foundation.
- Non-commercial, active status.
- Mission: Free, volunteer-maintained knowledge.
How did Wikipedia evolve from its origins?
Wikipedia launched on January 15, 2001, as a spin-off from Nupedia, an expert-written encyclopedia. Co-founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger envisioned a publicly editable platform using wiki technology. It rapidly grew, adopting a Neutral Point of View policy and expanding into numerous language editions. Key milestones include reaching millions of articles and navigating challenges like slowing growth and the impact of generative AI.
- Evolved from Nupedia, launched Jan 15, 2001.
- Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.
- Adopted Neutral Point of View.
- Rapid growth, then slowing.
- Impacted by AI.
How does Wikipedia operate and what is its governance structure?
Wikipedia runs on custom, open-source MediaWiki software, supported by Linux servers and global data centers. Automated bots manage repetitive tasks and vandalism. Content is openly licensed (CC BY-SA 4.0) for free reuse, accessible via web and mobile apps. Its governance involves experienced administrators and the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, funded by donations, overseeing dispute resolution and project direction.
- Uses MediaWiki software.
- Linux servers, global data centers.
- Automated bots for tasks.
- Open license (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Governance by administrators.
- Wikimedia Foundation funded by donations.
What are Wikipedia's core content policies and guidelines?
Wikipedia's content adheres to "Five Pillars," including its identity as an encyclopedia, Neutral Point of View (NPOV), and free content. Policies mandate notability, no original research, and verifiability through citations. NPOV requires impartial summaries of reliable sources. The community develops and enforces these policies, managing editing restrictions, page protection, and content disputes, including sensitive topics like explicit content.
- Guided by 'Five Pillars'.
- Policies: Notability, no original research, verifiability.
- Neutral Point of View (NPOV) is crucial.
- Editing restrictions, page protection.
- Community resolves disputes.
- Handles controversial content.
Who are Wikipedia's editors and what defines its community?
Wikipedia's content is maintained by volunteer editors, known as Wikipedians, who often focus on personal interests. While "outsiders" contribute much content, "insiders" refine it. The community is predominantly male, educated, and technically inclined, leading to gender and geographical biases. New editors face complexity, contributing to attrition. Efforts are underway to encourage diversity and address issues like sexism and harassment.
- Volunteers called Wikipedians.
- Predominantly male, educated community.
- Faces gender and geographical biases.
- New editors struggle.
- Concerns about editor attrition.
- Efforts for diversity, addressing sexism.
How do Wikipedia's numerous language editions function?
Wikipedia features 342 language editions, with English being the largest, boasting over 7.1 million articles. Bots, like Lsjbot, significantly contribute to article creation in several non-English Wikipedias. The English edition receives nearly half of all traffic, but policies and content can diverge across languages. Coordination happens via Meta-Wiki, yet article coverage gaps persist, and translated articles form a small portion of most editions.
- 342 language editions.
- English Wikipedia largest (7.1M+ articles).
- Bots create many articles.
- English Wikipedia gets 48% traffic.
- Policies and content vary.
- Meta-Wiki coordinates editions.
What is Wikipedia's reception and global impact?
Wikipedia is praised for democratizing knowledge and extensive coverage, but criticized for systemic biases. Its reliability has improved, making it a trusted source for breaking news and combating misinformation, even by major platforms. While not an academic authority, it's a valuable research starting point. Its cultural significance is vast, influencing academia, law, and journalism, solidifying its role as a pillar of the open web.
- Praised for knowledge, coverage.
- Criticized for systemic biases.
- Improved reliability, trusted source.
- Valuable research starting point.
- Significant cultural impact.
- Received numerous awards.
What are Wikipedia's sister projects?
Wikipedia is part of a larger Wikimedia ecosystem, comprising sister projects each dedicated to free knowledge. These include Wiktionary (dictionary), Wikiquote (quotations), and Wikibooks (textbooks). Wikimedia Commons hosts multimedia, while Wikinews offers collaborative journalism. Other projects like Wikiversity, Wikispecies, Wikivoyage, and Wikidata further expand the scope, providing learning materials, species catalogs, travel guides, and an editable knowledge base.
- Wiktionary: Dictionary.
- Wikiquote: Quotations.
- Wikibooks: Free textbooks.
- Wikimedia Commons: Multimedia.
- Wikinews: Journalism.
- Wikidata: Knowledge base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Wikipedia and when was it launched?
Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger created Wikipedia, launching it on January 15, 2001. It quickly became a free, online encyclopedia.
What is the Wikimedia Foundation's role?
The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit owner and host of Wikipedia. It funds the project through donations, supporting its mission of free global knowledge.
How many languages is Wikipedia available in?
Wikipedia is available in 342 languages. The English Wikipedia is the largest, containing over 7.1 million articles.
What are Wikipedia's "Five Pillars"?
The "Five Pillars" are Wikipedia's guiding principles: encyclopedia, Neutral Point of View, free content, respect/civility, and no firm rules.
Is Wikipedia considered a reliable source for academic research?
Academics generally discourage direct citation. Wikipedia is best used as a starting point for research, leading to more authoritative sources.
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