Decoding the Metaverse: An in-depth exploration of layers and technological foundations

During recent years, the Metaverse has evolved as a disruptive area with great potential for business, individuals, and research. Despite the rapid developments in this space, there are numerous open issues that need to be discussed and analyzed. The goal of this chapter is to introduce the reader to the Metaverse and clarify the current confusion regarding its architectural layers. The chapter describes the Metaverse as the next generation of the Internet and begins by explaining the various phases of the Internet's evolution. It explores the Metaverse's origins, defines its characteristics, and presents existing approaches to its architecture found in the literature. The critical analysis carried out demonstrates that the existing approaches have limitations. In order to overcome these limitations, we introduce the Metaverse Five Layers Approach (M5LA). M5LA is designed to describe the Metaverse's structure, and it consists of five layers and ten sublayers. By identifying key layers and sublayers, our proposed approach enhances both theoretical understanding and practical implementation. M5LA also provides valuable insights for architects and developers who navigate this innovative digital space.