Wiki is a kind of website that allows multiple people to easily create and edit content. Wikis enable groups of people to work together, even if they are not in the same place. Unlike the “finished” content on other websites, the content on a wiki typically changes as people participate. The word wiki comes from the Hawaiian phrase wiki wiki, which means fast.
Use.
Wiki users can typically view and work on a wiki through a web browser. Some wikis are public, meaning that anyone can make changes to the content. Sometimes, users must register on such wikis. Other wikis are private, allowing only invited users to participate.
Wiki pages are typically written in a code simpler than the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) used for other web pages. This simplified code, sometimes called wikitext or wiki markup, makes it easier for casual users to make changes to content.
Many types of groups use wikis. For example, commercial product development teams use wikis to coordinate work, sometimes among employees around the world. Such wikis may also allow customers to make comments and suggestions about products. A university professor might use a wiki to enable students to work together more easily. Wikis can also help families plan trips or gather genealogical (family history) information.
History.
The first wiki was created in 1995 by Ward Cunningham, an American software programmer. He wanted a quick way to share programming ideas with a group of people. Wikipedia, a user-created online encyclopedia, is one of the most popular and well-established wikis. It started in 2001.
