This book takes readers on an exploration of the evolution of the web, focusing on key technological phases. While there are current web products that embrace the newest technologies, not all products require it. A web site that showcases a company’s brand information, which is focused on the presentation of content, might do well with the technologies from Web 1.0, a presentation-focused era, whereas a web product that is a framework for produced content and supported by advertising might need the personalization technology found in Web 3.5, a personalized experience era. The point is that the technology from an earlier phase is not automatically outdated, but its utility should be measured against the technology need of the web product.
We will look at the technologies to understand how different products fit with the technologies of a particular phase. The client-centric revolution of Web 2.5, a mobile web era, highlights the intricacies of client-side programming, The era of Web 3.0 with its personalized search experiences emphasizes semantically enriched websites. Traditional search paradigms found in early phases will later benefit from the nuances of personalized search found in the technologies of Web 3.0. On the horizon of Web 3.5 is the epoch of personalized websites. Further beyond is Web 4.0 and its transformation of content through the use of artificial intelligence.