What nickname was given to the 1990s surge and 2000 collapse in technology stocks?

The 1990s technology-stock boom and its 2000 collapse are known as the dot-com bubble.

The expansion centered on internet companies, many of which adopted web-based business models and names ending in “.com.” Investors often valued rapid user growth and future possibilities more heavily than profits. Venture capital, initial public offerings, and online trading helped spread enthusiasm.

The Nasdaq Composite, a technology-heavy index, reached a closing peak of 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000. After interest rates rose and confidence weakened, technology shares fell sharply. Many young companies failed, while even established firms lost large portions of their market value.

The collapse did not mean the internet was unimportant. Companies such as Amazon and eBay survived and later expanded, while broadband and online services continued developing. The lasting lesson is that a transformative technology can be genuine even when investors overpay for businesses built around it.