Can i play gta online without playing story mode?

Grand Theft Auto Online is described as the online multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto V, released as a standalone game requiring ownership of GTA V. While the evidence confirms that GTA Online is set in the same fictional state of San Andreas and operates independently with its own progression systems, it does not specify whether the single-player story mode must be completed or even played to access GTA Online. In real-world practice, GTA Online can be accessed without engaging with the story mode, but the given evidence does not confirm this detail.