Kindsmuller, Martin C., Sandro Leuchter, and Leon Urbas. "Online Communities and Community Building." Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, First Edition. IGI Global, 2005. 2203-2208.

The term "online community" has gained popularity in the e-commerce sector, though its meaning can be somewhat vague due to widespread use. This article defines an online community as a voluntary group of users actively participating in a computer-mediated service. It argues that "online community" is a more accurate term than "virtual community," as it emphasizes the real interaction happening online among members who are aware of their participation in the community, unlike "virtual community," which may imply a broader, less tangible concept of community.