blog

A blog is a regularly updated online publication consisting of discrete entries, or posts, usually presented in reverse chronological order. Posts may include text, images, video, audio, and links, and are commonly organized by categories or tags. Many blogs support comments and RSS feeds, enabling readers to subscribe and discuss.

The term weblog is a shortening of "weblog," coined in the late 1990s by Jorn Barger; the phrase was later shortened to blog, and the practice broadened beyond personal diaries to include news, analysis, and professional content. Early platforms in the 1990s enabled individuals to publish with minimal technical skill; this expanded with dedicated blogging tools, such as Blogger (launched 1999) and later WordPress (2003), which popularized self-hosted and open-source blogging software.

Blogs vary in purpose and audience. Personal blogs often focus on daily life or opinions, while professional or corporate blogs address industry topics, products, or thought leadership. Media outlets use blogs for updates; educators use blogs as learning journals. Blogging supports monetization through advertising, sponsorships, affiliate links, or premium content, and is integrated with social media and search engine optimization.

Though widely adopted, blogs face challenges, including moderation of comments, copyright and privacy concerns, platform dependence, and misinformation. Despite these concerns, blogs remain a foundational form of user-generated content, influencing digital communication, marketing, journalism, and online communities.