If you are referring to a 2010 1st gen iPad, while that old an iPad ( if still working as it should ) can still be used, its usefulness online is extremely limited and if there are no apps on this old an iPad, there are no more tbir party aops for such old iPad models.
If you are referring to old 2013 iPad Air 1 ( “A” model number A1474/1475/1476 ), iPad Mini 2 ( “ A” model number A1489/1490/1491 ) and the 2014 iPad Mini 3 ( “A” model number A1599/1600/1601 ) cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12.
These iPad modelw are too old.
These iPad models have overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of the newest iPadOS versions.
These iPad models are nearly 9 and 10-years old, now, in 2023.
Sorry.
Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.
The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.
Apple has stopped issuing any major iOS 12 updates for these very old iPad models and have been ONLY issuing security, “point” updates for the past few years.
It is well past the three year mark and third party app iOS 12 support/compatibility has been on a quick and steady, downward/decline trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.
Many popular third party apps are no longer available to 9 to 10-year old iPad models that are, permanently, stuck at some version of iOS 12, or earlier iOS version.
Look for many more third party apps dropping support for all iOS 12 supported devices as the 2023 year progresses to its end.
The immediately above statement is what you really need to worry about.
In addition, all of the various iOS 12 Web browsers, that were once available for these older iPad models, should still be safe to use for a while longer, you can still use that iPad the way it has always been used, but know that 9 to 10-year old iPad models will no longer have access to any current apps.
That older Safari Web browser may, or may not, be too old old to access certain types of Website, as well.
Compatible third party Web browsers for over nearly 10-12 year old iPad models are few, now.
Here are few third party Web browsers left, to look at, in the iOS App Store, that are still getting regular updates and are still compatible with your iOS 12 iPad year and model.
Alook Web browser
iCab mobile Web browser
Opera Web browser.
Plus, no way to know when Apple will cut off all security support for these nearly 9 and 10-year old devices.
Apple may have very well already ended any future point security updates for such old iPad models
Also, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.
Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.
Also, these very old iPad models have NO real trade-in nor any resale value, either.
Sorry.