dark web
/dɑːrk wɛb/
Very CommonThe part of the internet not indexed by search engines and only accessible through special software like Tor.
Often confused with the deep web, which is just any non-indexed content like your email inbox. The dark web is a specific subset accessed via Tor or similar networks. Overhyped in media as more uniformly criminal than it actually is.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | they found his leaked data for sale on the dark web | Someone's personal information was being sold anonymously on hidden sites. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | journalists in authoritarian countries use the dark web to communicate safely | The anonymous network has legitimate uses for people who need privacy. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | 99% of people who say they browse the dark web are lying | Most people who claim to use it are exaggerating for social status. | x, 2023 |
| 04 | the dark web is not as scary as tv shows make it look | Media coverage exaggerates what the dark web is and who uses it. | reddit, 2022 |
Use it when
- Referring to Tor-accessible hidden websites and networks.
- Discussing the anonymous, non-indexed layer of the internet.
- Talking about privacy tools, whistleblowing, or illicit online markets.
Do not use it when
- You mean any web content that isn't publicly visible.Use “deep web” instead.
- You mean normal websites not indexed by Google.Use “deep web” instead.
Dark web vs deep web
dark web
The dark web is specifically the Tor-accessible hidden network with .onion addresses.
deep-web
The deep web is all non-indexed web content, including email, banking portals, and private databases.
Origin and context
The term 'dark web' came into broad use in the early 2010s as Tor-hidden services became more widely known. Media coverage of markets like Silk Road brought the term mainstream around 2013.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/dark-web