What name is commonly given to the collapse of technology stocks from 2000 to 2002?

The collapse of technology stocks from 2000 to 2002 is commonly called the dot-com crash.

It followed the dot-com bubble, a period when investors bid up internet and technology companies, including many businesses with limited revenue or no profits. The Nasdaq Composite, heavily weighted toward technology shares, reached an intraday peak of 5,132.52 on March 10, 2000.

After that peak, investors became less willing to pay extreme prices for projected future growth. Rising interest rates, disappointing earnings, and a series of high-profile business failures intensified the sell-off. The Nasdaq declined about 78% from its peak by October 2002.

The crash did not mean that the internet lacked economic value. Companies with durable business models eventually became major enterprises, while many speculative ventures disappeared. The episode remains a major example of how enthusiasm for a transformative technology can become detached from current financial performance.