A wiki is a server software that allows visitors to create and edit web page content using simple formatting codes. It fosters collaborative communication but has drawbacks such as questionable content quality and malicious posts. Users should verify information from these sites before relying on it.
The term “wiki” refers to the type of server software that allows visitors to easily create and edit web page content. Using a series of simple formatting codes, website visitors can create their own content or add hyperlinks, headers, lists, tables and images to existing pages. While HTML coding can also be used to perform these functions, the wiki method of managing content is easier for users with minimal computer skills to learn.
The wiki’s “open edit” philosophy is a simple idea, but it has created widespread change in Internet usage patterns. Websites using this content management system foster collaborative communication and an engagement for the open exchange of ideas among a diverse group of visitors. Most wiki websites are non-profit, although some try to generate income through the use of affiliate links and advertisements.
The first known wiki site, the Portland Pattern Repository, was created in 1995. Today Wikipedia®, an online encyclopedia project written and maintained by volunteers, is perhaps the best known wiki on the Internet. The site contains millions of articles written in several languages and covers a wide range of topics, including history, religion, politics, travel and popular culture. It’s a project of the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit charity that also operates a number of other collaborative websites.
While Wikipedia® is a phenomenally successful website, the wiki method of creating content has drawbacks. Anyone can write and edit material on one of these websites, so the quality of the content is often questionable. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar, and factual inaccuracies are a common problem. Some sites have also had problems with pranks, spam, vandalism, and unauthorized commercial content. Wiki sites that cover politics, religion, and other controversial topics often have problems with visitors who also post malicious content.
Because of the problems associated with the wiki method of building websites, people need to be cautious when using information obtained from Wikipedia® and other similar websites where content can be added and reviewed by the public. Generally, it’s not a good idea for Internet users to rely on medical, financial, or historical information unless they can verify the content through another source. For this reason, many colleges and universities now have formal policies prohibiting students from citing these websites as source material for term papers and research projects.
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