Glossary of Dark Web Terms

Topic links 3.0 onion is a structured way to share and discover hidden services safely inside the Tor network. This glossary explains the most important terms you will meet while working with them.

Core Concepts

Dark web — the part of the internet that search engines cannot reach and that requires special software such as the Tor Browser to access. You reach it through .onion addresses that change constantly and protect your identity.

Onion address — a special web address that ends in .onion and can be visited only inside the Tor network. These addresses are generated automatically and give both the site and the visitor extra layers of privacy.

Onion routing — the method Tor uses to send your traffic through several relays so nobody can see both where you are and where you are going. Each relay peels off one layer of encryption, exactly like peeling an onion.

Topic links 3.0 — the current standard format for sharing categorised collections of .onion services. It organises links into clear groups so you can find exactly what you need without wasting time or exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.

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Tools and Access

Tor Browser — the official browser you must use to visit any .onion site. It connects you to the Tor network automatically and blocks many common tracking methods that normal browsers allow.

Tor relay — a computer run by volunteers that passes encrypted traffic between users and hidden services. The more relays there are, the stronger and faster the network becomes for everyone.

Exit node — the final relay in a Tor circuit that sends your request out to the regular internet or receives answers from it. For pure .onion traffic you never use an exit node because the connection stays inside the Tor network.

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Safety and Organisation

Directory list — a regularly updated collection of working .onion links grouped by topic. You should always check several directory lists because individual links can disappear without warning.

Hidden service — any website or service that runs only inside the Tor network and uses an .onion address. These services keep both the operator’s location and the visitor’s identity hidden from each other.

Mirror — an exact copy of an .onion site that runs on a different address. Mirrors help you stay connected if the main link goes offline, so always keep a short list of mirrors for the sites you visit often.

Onion version 3 — the current and more secure format for .onion addresses that replaced the older version 2 addresses in 2021. All new hidden services now use version 3 because it offers longer addresses and stronger cryptography.

Relay bridge — a special Tor entry point that helps you connect when your internet provider blocks normal Tor relays. Bridges are especially useful if you live in a place with strict internet controls.