Launch of Wikipedia
Wikipedia was launched on January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. It began as a complementary project to Nupedia, a free online encyclopedia with articles written by experts.
2001
2002
Introduction of Interlanguage Links
In 2002, Wikipedia introduced interlanguage links, allowing users to navigate between different language editions of articles, significantly enhancing its usability and accessibility.
2003
Creation of Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation was established on June 20, 2003, to support Wikipedia and its sister projects. This non-profit organization manages the infrastructure and fundraising for Wikipedia.
2004
Launch of Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons, a repository for free-use images, sound, and other media files, was launched in September 2004 to support Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
2005
Wikipedia Surpasses 1 Million Articles
In March 2005, the English Wikipedia reached 1 million articles, marking a significant milestone in its development and demonstrating its rapid growth.
2006
Introduction of the Wikipedia Logo
The now-iconic puzzle globe logo of Wikipedia was introduced in 2006, symbolizing the collaborative and global nature of the project.
2007
Wikipedia Enters Top 10 Websites
In 2007, Wikipedia became one of the top 10 most visited websites in the world, highlighting its importance as a major source of information on the internet.
2008
Launch of Wikipedia Mobile
Wikipedia Mobile was launched in 2008, making the encyclopedia more accessible to users on smartphones and other mobile devices.
2009
Introduction of Flagged Revisions
Flagged revisions were introduced in 2009 to improve the quality of articles by allowing certain edits to be reviewed before becoming visible to the public.
2010
Wikipedia Surpasses 3 Million Articles
The English Wikipedia reached 3 million articles in August 2010, continuing its trend of rapid growth and expansion.
2011
Wikipedia's 10th Anniversary
Wikipedia celebrated its 10th anniversary on January 15, 2011, with events held around the world to commemorate a decade of free knowledge sharing.
2012
SOPA and PIPA Blackout
In January 2012, Wikipedia participated in a 24-hour blackout to protest the SOPA and PIPA bills, which threatened internet freedom and the open sharing of knowledge.
2013
VisualEditor Release
The VisualEditor, a user-friendly, WYSIWYG editor for Wikipedia, was released in 2013 to make editing articles easier for new contributors.
2015
Wikipedia Turns 15
Wikipedia celebrated its 15th anniversary on January 15, 2015, marking a decade and a half of providing free access to knowledge.
2017
Wikipedia Surpasses 5 Million Articles
The English Wikipedia reached 5 million articles in November 2015, solidifying its position as one of the largest and most comprehensive encyclopedias in history.
2020
Wikipedia and COVID-19 Information
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wikipedia played a crucial role in providing reliable information about the virus, showcasing its importance as a trusted source of information.
2021
Wikipedia's 20th Anniversary
Wikipedia celebrated its 20th anniversary on January 15, 2021, with global events and initiatives to honor two decades of free knowledge sharing.
2023
Introduction of Abstract Wikipedia
Abstract Wikipedia, a project aimed at creating a language-independent version of Wikipedia, was introduced in 2023 to further enhance the accessibility and reach of the encyclopedia.
