thirdgeneration

Third generation, often written as 'third generation' or '3G' in technology contexts, is a label used to describe the third version or generation of a product, system, or concept. The designation implies progression from a first generation and a second generation and usually signals expanded capabilities, improved performance, or new features. The specific criteria for what constitutes a third generation vary by field.

In telecommunications, '3G' refers to third-generation mobile networks introduced in the early 2000s that provided mobile data and broadband-style Internet access. Key standards include the IMT-2000 family, UMTS (W-CDMA), and CDMA2000. 3G networks enabled data rates sufficient for mobile email, basic web browsing, and video messaging, representing a shift from earlier 2G voice-centric networks to data-enabled services.

In computing and software, third-generation programming languages (3GLs) are high-level languages that use human-readable statements and are typically compiled or interpreted. They include languages such as C, C++, Java, Fortran, Pascal, and BASIC. 3GLs abstract away hardware details more than low-level 2GLs (assembly language) and facilitate portable, project-scale software development.

Apart from technology, the term is used more broadly to denote mature, widely adopted versions of products, including consumer electronics, vehicles, and industrial equipment, with subsequent generations generally bringing reliability, efficiency, and new features.