The real-time web is a network web using technologies and practices that enable users to receive information as soon as it is published by its authors, rather than requiring that they or their software check a source periodically for updates.
Examples of real-time web are Facebook's newsfeed, and Twitter, implemented in social networking, search, and news sites.
Benefits are said to include increased user engagement ("flow") and decreased server loads.
The true-realtime web model was born in 2000 at mc2labs.net by an Italian independent researcher.
Advancements in web search technology coupled with growing use of social media enable online activities to be queried as they occur.