TLDR: Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. It has articles on a wide range of topics and is available in many different languages. It was created in 2001 and is maintained by a community of volunteers. While it has been praised for its extensive coverage and accessibility, it has also faced criticism for potential biases and reliability issues.

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is written and maintained by a community of volunteers. It was created in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger and is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization. The goal of Wikipedia is to provide free and accessible knowledge to everyone.

Wikipedia is available in many different languages and has articles on a wide range of topics. It is one of the most popular websites in the world and is often used as a reference source. The articles on Wikipedia are written collaboratively by volunteers, who use a wiki-based editing system called MediaWiki.

One of the key principles of Wikipedia is that it is a free-content encyclopedia, which means that anyone can use, edit, and distribute the content. However, there are guidelines and policies in place to ensure the quality and reliability of the information. Editors are encouraged to follow a neutral point of view and to provide reliable sources for the information they add.

Wikipedia has been praised for its extensive coverage and its ability to democratize knowledge. It has become a valuable resource for many people around the world. However, it has also faced criticism for potential biases and reliability issues. Some articles may have systemic biases or lack coverage of certain topics. The reliability of Wikipedia has also been questioned, although efforts have been made to improve the accuracy and verifiability of the information.

Overall, Wikipedia is a valuable resource that provides free and accessible knowledge to millions of people. It is a collaborative project that relies on the contributions of volunteers from around the world. While it has its limitations and challenges, it continues to be a popular and widely used source of information.