Blogs, originally known as Web Logs, are Web sites that display entries in reverse chronological order. Some blogs report or comment on news or specific subject matter, such as politics. Others function as online personal diaries, records of research, and supplements to classroom activities. Others are used for persuasion or marketing, like the blogs of political candidates.

Most blogs are primarily textual, but they may also include art, photography, videos, and audio content.

Most blogs are characterized by

• A secure Web interface with administrative tools, allowing the blog owner to
  • create or modify the design of the site
  • add, edit or delete entries
  • monitor comments
  • post images, video, and audio files
  • link to other blogs or sites

• A public face with a unique address (URL) that allows visitors to
  • view content
  • comment on content
  • search archives

While it's possible to build your own blog from scratch, you'll need blog software, a server, and a database. Most bloggers use existing blog services, some of which are available for free.

Two of the most popular blog services are Blogger, a free service run by Google, and TypePad, for which users pay a monthly or annual fee.