Introduction to Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that allows anyone with an internet connection to edit its content. Founded on January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, it is hosted by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation23. As of 2025, Wikipedia has more than 64 million articles in over 300 languages, with the English Wikipedia being the largest edition2.

Key Features of Wikipedia:

• Collaborative Editing: Anyone can edit Wikipedia articles, promoting a community-driven approach to knowledge sharing2.
• Free and Ad-Free: Wikipedia is free to access and does not display ads, supported by donations rather than advertising revenue4.
• Accessibility: Available in many languages and accessible via a mobile app, making it a global resource for knowledge4.

Content and Policies:

• Verifiability and Neutrality: Wikipedia articles must be based on reliable sources and strive for a neutral point of view to maintain credibility2.
• Continuous Updates: Articles are updated in real-time to reflect new information and current events2.

The English Wikipedia:

• Largest Edition: The English Wikipedia is the most widely accessed version, accounting for nearly half of Wikipedia's traffic, and hosts over 6.9 million articles3.
• Community and Criticism: While praised for democratizing knowledge, it faces criticisms for systemic biases and requires ongoing community efforts to maintain neutrality3.

Mobile App:

• Offline Access: Users can save and read articles offline using the app's "My lists" feature4.
• Multilingual Support: The app allows users to easily switch between languages for reading articles4.

Wikipedia serves as a critical resource for education and research, offering unparalleled access to information globally.