What are the main differences between gta online and single player gta games?

Grand Theft Auto V, released in 2013, features three main protagonists—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor—in a scripted single-player campaign with a defined narrative arc. In contrast, GTA Online launched as a standalone multiplayer mode where players create and develop their own characters, engage in cooperative missions, and participate in a constantly evolving world with regular updates from Rockstar Games. The single-player experience focuses on completing story missions in sequence, whereas GTA Online emphasizes player-driven activities, competitive modes, and a persistent online world with its own economy and progression system. GTA Online has received continuous content updates since 2013, introducing new vehicles, weapons, game modes, and story-driven DLC, while the single-player campaign remains static after completion.