It might seem a little funny to explain what a blog is when you’re reading the explanation ON a blog, but it seems a good place to start. Lexicon will be a regular feature of First Bytes, so I thought I’d kick it off today.

So what is a blog?

The word “blog” is a shortened form of “weblog,” which literally means a log (or journal) that is posted on the web. Blogs have been around for some time, but have really taken off in the last few years. Some people use them precisely as journals, posting about their personal lives, families, etc. Others use them to focus on a particular subject.

Regardless of the subject matter, blogs typically have some defining characteristics in common. The main page of a blog is usually a list of recent posts, with the newest listed at the top. Most blogs can be searched and are often categorized and tagged to help visitors find posts of interest. Blogs may have one author or multiple authors.

Anyone can start a blog and post anything they like, which can be very freeing. No publishers or editors stand in the way of getting your words out. At the same time, that lack of editorial oversight means that it’s up to readers to decide whether the information provided on a blog is worthwhile.

Personally, I love reading blogs and it’s a rare day when I don’t stumble across a new and interesting one. We have been having a lot of fun planning this one, and hope you’ll find it worth your time.