Wikipedia is one of the most important and popular websites in the world, consistently ranking among the top 10 most visited sites and receiving nearly 7 billion visits each month. For many internet users, it is the go-to source for basic fact-checking, and millions of students rely on it to supplement their formal education.
As a unique resource, Wikipedia provides free access to information on an almost limitless range of topics. It is the largest repository of human knowledge in history, with more than 7 million articles in English alone and more than 300 language editions. Inspired by traditional encyclopedias like Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia covers far more topics and is updated much more frequently than was ever possible before.
What sets Wikipedia apart from other major websites is its volunteer-driven model of knowledge production. Unlike top sites run by billion-dollar companies, Wikipedia is maintained by a worldwide network of volunteers who write its articles and manage its governance. The nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia's servers, plays no role in its content.
