Is gta online a separate game from gta v story mode?

Grand Theft Auto Online functions as an online multiplayer expansion for Grand Theft Auto V rather than a standalone title. While it was released as a separate downloadable content package after GTA V's initial 2013 launch, it is technically integrated into the GTA V game structure and requires ownership of the base game to access. Unlike the story mode, which follows a single-player narrative through three protagonists, Online offers a persistent open world where up to 30 players can engage in cooperative missions, competitive modes, and free-roam activities. The two modes share the same fictional San Andreas setting, including Los Santos, but operate as distinct gameplay experiences within the same game ecosystem.