A metaverse is a virtual reality environment where users can interact with each other and with computer-generated objects. It is a shared, online space that can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.
The term was first coined by science fiction author Neal Stephenson in his novel Snow Crash, published in 1992. In the book, the metaverse is a virtual world where people can meet and interact with each other. The metaverse is also home to artificial intelligence entities known as avatars.
Since then, the term has been used to describe various other virtual reality environments, including those in video games and social media platforms. The term is also used to refer to the virtual world of the internet itself.
The concept of the metaverse has been used in a number of popular culture works, including the Matrix franchise, the Ready Player One novel and film, and the Sword Art Online anime series.