Web5

Web5 is a new approach to web platforms, designed to provide a new identity layer for the web to enable decentralized apps and protocols. The primary aim of Web5 is to give users control over their data and identity, a key feature that's often lacking in existing web models. Web5 blends the convenience of Web 2.0 with the control and autonomy of Web 3.0.

The three main components of Web5 are:

Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs):

These self-owned identifiers enable decentralized identity authentication and routing, removing the dependency on centralized entities for authentication and representation.

Verifiable Credentials:

These data formats and models allow cryptographic presentation and verification of claims, making it possible to verify claims about a DID subject without having to trust them directly.

Decentralized Web Nodes (DWNs):

These data storage and message relay nodes serve as the foundation for decentralized apps and protocols. They enable users to host their data themselves in their own personal data stores.

Apps

Web5 also facilitates the creation of Decentralized Web Apps (DWAs), which are built on top of the platform and are open-source. This platform enables developers to focus on their app while gaining decentralization, identity, and data management as part of the platform. Some of the examples of applications that can be built on this platform include music applications and travel applications, among others.

The primary goal of Web5 is to fundamentally change how we exchange data, making it more decentralized and giving individuals greater control over their own information. It aims to move away from the current centralized model where data is stored with individual applications, instead allowing data to be stored with the user and accessed by applications as needed.