---
tags:
  - knowledge-management
  - social-software
  - software
  - tech
  - wiki
---
A wiki is a collaborative website or online platform that allows multiple users to create, edit, and organize content directly through their web browser. The term comes from the Hawaiian word "wiki-wiki", which means quick. It was coined by American programmer [Ward Cunningham](../../World/People/Ward%20Cunningham.md) in 1995 when he created the first-ever wiki software, the [WikiWikiWeb](https://wiki.c2.com/?WikiWikiWeb).

## Core Characteristics of a Wiki
- **Collaborative Editing:** Users can add, delete, or modify text and media easily without needing complex HTML or programming skills.
- **Hyperlinking:** Pages are connected using a simplified syntax, making it easy to build intuitive networks of knowledge.
- **Version History:** Most wikis automatically track changes, allowing users to see previous versions of a page or rollback accidental edits and vandalism.
- **Flexible Permissions:** While some wikis are completely open to the public, others can be semi-protected or kept entirely private for corporate or team use.

## Popular Examples
- The most prominent example of a wiki is [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page), a massive, free multilingual encyclopedia maintained by hundreds of thousands of volunteers worldwide. 
- [Ward Cunningham](../../World/People/Ward%20Cunningham.md)'s [C2 Wiki](../C2%20Wiki.md)

Other well-known platforms include [Wiktionary](https://www.wiktionary.org/) (a collaborative dictionary), Fandom (formerly Wikia, hosting pop-culture communities), and internal corporate project spaces powered by software like Microsoft SharePoint or Confluence.



## Personal Wikis
A [personal wiki](Personal%20Wiki%20Software.md) is a private, single-user digital repository used to organize, manage, and interlink your personal notes, research, and ideas.