Imagine Web 5 as a new way of doing things on the Internet. Right now, when you use apps or websites, your personal information is often owned and controlled by big companies. Web 5 wants to change that.
In the current system, you're like a guest in someone else's house when you use the internet. Web 5 wants to give you your own house. This means you have control over your information and who gets to see it.
With Web 5, the goal is to create apps and services that put you in charge. It's like having your own personal space on the internet, where you decide who gets access to your information. It's all about giving you more control and privacy in the digital world.
In this article, I'll explain What Web 5 means, Components of Web 5, Decentralized Identifiers, Verifiable Credentials, Real-world applications of Web 5 concepts, Decentralized Web Nodes, and case studies of Web 5.
Let's dive into this magical world and see what Web5 is all about! 🚀
What is Web 5?
Web 5 is a decentralized platform that provides a new identity layer for the web to enable decentralized apps and protocols.
Components of Web 5
The decentralized platform rests on three primary pillars, all grounded in open standards which are: Decentralized Identifiers (DID), Verifiable Credentials, and Decentralized Web Nodes.
Decentralized Identifiers ( DIDs)
Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) are a new type of Identifier designed to enable verifiable, self-owned, and privacy-respecting digital identities. I'm summary, DIDs are a way for individuals, entities, or things to have a unique and persistent identifier that is not tied to a central authority.
Key characteristics of DIDs include the following:
Self-Sovereignity: DIDs allow individuals to have control over their own identity without relying on a central authority. Users can create, manage, and own DIDs without the need of an intermediary.
Privacy: DIDs prioritize user privacy by allowing individuals to share only the information they choose, granting them greater control over the data they disclose in different online interactions.
Decentralization: DIDs are designed to be decentralized, meaning there is no single point of control or failure. This decentralization enhances security and resilience compared to traditional centralized identity systems.
Here's an Illustration of DIDs:
They are a long string of text that consists of three parts:
the URI scheme identifier, which is did
the identifier for a DID method
the DID method-specific identifier
Verifiable Credentials
Verifiable Credentials in Web5 are like digital badges that prove something about you, but they're super secure and easy to use. These digital badges are a way to show information about yourself, like your age or whether you have a certain skill without giving away too much personal detail.
Let's break it down:
Digital Badges: Think of Verifiable Credentials as special online badges you collect. These badges vouch for certain things about you, and they're stored in a way that's really hard for anyone to fake.
Proving Stuff About You: Imagine you want to prove to someone online that you're really good at writing technical articles. Instead of just saying it, you can show them your "Technical Writing" digital badge. This badge is like a mini certificate that says, "Yep, this person is awesome at writing technical articles!"
Super Secure: Web5 makes sure these digital badges are super secure. They use fancy computer codes (cryptographic techniques) to make sure that once you have a badge, no one can tamper with it or create fake ones.
Easy to Use: In Web5, using these badges is as easy as showing your ID when you enter a class. You don't have to share all your personal information, just the specific details that the other person needs to know.
Example:
Suppose, you want to join an online game that's for players aged 13 and above. Instead of typing in your birthdate, you can show a digital badge that says you're 13 or older. The game checks the badge and lets you in if it's valid.
Decentralized Web Nodes
In the context of Web5, Decentralized Web Nodes refer to the foundational building blocks of a distributed and decentralized network. These nodes play a crucial role in how the Web5 ecosystem operates. Let's break down the concept:
Decentralization: In Web5, decentralization is a key principle. Unlike traditional internet models where data and control often reside in centralized servers owned by big companies, Web5 distributes these functions across a network of nodes.
Web Nodes: Nodes are individual points or locations in a network. In the context of the web, a node could be a device (like a computer or server) that participates in the network. Each node has its own unique role and responsibilities.
Decentralized Web Nodes: Decentralized Web Nodes, in the context of Web5, are these distributed points in the network that work together without relying on a central authority. Each node contributes to the functioning of the Web5 ecosystem.
Use Cases of Web 5
We’re going to build a decentralized application on the Web5 platform - in under 5 minutes. You'll learn how to CRUD (create, read, update, and delete) data from your users' personal data stores. You can reference the docs for more info.
Let’s go! 🚀
Here's a quick guide for the Installation process.
Prerequisites
Node Package Manager,
npm, installed and on your system's$PATH.Node version 18 and above
1. Create a directory
This will be the home of your new Web5 app. In your CLI:
Real-world applications built with Web 5
Here are some awesome applications built with Web 5 that can revolutionize the way we interact with the internet, offering enhanced user control, privacy, and security in a decentralized online environment.
Conclusion
In this article, you've learned Web 5 means, Components of Web 5, Decentralized Identifiers, Verifiable Credentials, Real-world applications of Web 5 concepts, Decentralized Web Nodes, and case studies of Web 5.
Here are some additional resources you can use if you need more help or information while going through the tutorial:
https://developer.tbd.website/blog/what-is-web5
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/web5/quickstart
https://developer.tbd.website/api/web5-js
Sample Apps
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/web5/build/apps/todo-app-tutorial/
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/web5/build/apps/book-reviews-tutorial
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/web5/build/apps/dinger-tutorial
https://developer.tbd.website/docs/web5/build/apps/shared-todo-app/
Happy Coding!