Table of Contents
InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)
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In this conceptual guide, you'll learn what IPFS is and isn't.
Defining IPFS
The term IPFS can refer to multiple concepts:
- An implementation of IPFS protocol specifications (opens new window), such as Kubo. Learn more about the principles that define an IPFS implementation.
- A decentralized network composed of IPFS nodes that is open and participatory.
A modular suite of protocols and standards for organizing and transferring content-addressed data.
What IPFS isn't
While IPFS shares similarities with, and is often used in architectures with the systems described below, IPFS is not:
- A storage provider: While there are storage providers built with IPFS support (typically known as pinning services), IPFS itself is a protocol, not a provider.
- A cloud service provider: IPFS can be deployed on and complement cloud infrastructure, but it in of itself is not a cloud service provider.
Further reading
For an overview of the problems that IPFS solves, see part 2 of a 3-part introduction to the basic concepts of IPFS, IPFS and the problems it solves: https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/ipfs-solves/
To learn how IPFS is used by storage networks and other applications, see the usage ideas and examples: https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/usage-ideas-examples/
Looking for a deeper dive on IPFS compared to other similar technologies? See the IPFS Comparisons page: https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/comparisons
https://docs.ipfs.io/concepts/what-is-ipfs/#content-addressing
See also:
- Snippet from Wikipedia: InterPlanetary File System
The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol, hypermedia and file sharing peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. IPFS uses content-addressing to uniquely identify each file in a global namespace connecting IPFS hosts.
IPFS can among others replace the location based hypermedia server protocols HTTP and HTTPS to distribute the World Wide Web.
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The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol and peer-to-peer network for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. IPFS uses content-addressing to uniquely identify each file in a global namespace connecting all computing devices.<ref name=“wired20160620”>
</ref>
IPFS allows users to not only receive but host content, in a similar manner to BitTorrent. As opposed to a centrally located server, IPFS is built around a decentralized system of user-operators who hold a portion of the overall data, creating a resilient system of file storage and sharing. Any user in the network can serve a file by its content address, and other peers in the network can find and request that content from any node who has it using a distributed hash table (DHT).
IPFS was launched in an alpha version in February 2015, and by October of the same year was described by TechCrunch as “quickly spreading by word of mouth.”<ref name=ambercase>
</ref>
File:Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg
has an IPFS hash with the following code: QmRW3V9zn<wbr>zFW9M5FYbitSEvd5<wbr>dQrPWGvPvgQD6LM22Tv8D. It can be accessed with that hash over HTTP by a public gateway or a local IPFS instance. ]]
Design
IPFS allows users to not only receive but host content, in a similar manner to BitTorrent. As opposed to a centrally located server, IPFS is built around a decentralized system of user-operators who hold a portion of the overall data, creating a resilient system of file storage and sharing. Any user in the network can serve a file by its content address, and other peers in the network can find and request that content from any node who has it using a distributed hash table (DHT).
History
IPFS was launched in an alpha version in February 2015, and by October of the same year was described by TechCrunch as “quickly spreading by word of mouth.”<ref name=ambercase>
</ref>
The Catalan independence referendum, taking place in September–October 2017, was deemed illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain and many related websites were blocked. Subsequently, the Catalan Pirate Party mirrored the website on IPFS to bypass the High Court of Justice of Catalonia order of blocking.<ref>
</ref><ref>
</ref>
Phishing attacks have also been distributed through Cloudflare's IPFS gateway since July 2018. The phishing scam HTML is stored on IPFS, and displayed via Cloudflare's gateway. The connection shows as secure via a Cloudflare SSL certificate.<ref>
</ref>
The IPStorm botnet, first detected in June 2019, uses IPFS, so it can hide its command-and-control amongst the flow of legitimate data on the IPFS network.<ref>
</ref> Security researchers had worked out previously the theoretical possibility of using IPFS as a botnet command-and-control system.<ref>
</ref>
Other notable uses
<!– Only add widely recognized organizations and situations that have used IPFS in a significant capacity. Do not add new entries without providing comprehensive reliable sources; see Reliable sources
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- IPFS was used to create a mirror of Wikipedia, which allows people living in jurisdictions where Wikipedia is blocked to access the content of Wikipedia.<ref>
</ref> That archived version of Wikipedia is a limited immutable copy that cannot be updated.
- Filecoin, also inter-related to IPFS and developed by Juan Benet and Protocol Labs, is an IPFS-based cooperative storage cloud.<ref>
</ref>
- Cloudflare runs a distributed web gateway to simplify, speed up, and secure access to IPFS without needing a local node.<ref>
</ref>
- Microsoft's self-sovereign identity system, Microsoft ION, builds on the Bitcoin blockchain and IPFS through a Sidetree-based DID network.<ref>
</ref>
- Opera for Android has default support for IPFS, allowing mobile users to browse ipfs:// links to access data on the IPFS network.<ref>
</ref>
See also
External links
- Official website: https://ipfs.io
Categories
IPFS About Install Docs Team Blog Help IPFS powers the Distributed Web A peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to make the web faster, safer, and more open. View more The web of tomorrow needs IPFS today IPFS aims to surpass HTTP in order to build a better web for all of us.
Today's web is inefficient and expensive HTTP downloads files from one computer at a time instead of getting pieces from multiple computers simultaneously. Peer-to-peer IPFS saves big on bandwidth — up to 60% for video — making it possible to efficiently distribute high volumes of data without duplication.
Today's web can't preserve humanity's history The average lifespan of a web page is 100 days before it's gone forever. It's not good enough for the primary medium of our era to be this fragile. IPFS keeps every version of your files and makes it simple to set up resilient networks for mirroring data.
Today's web is centralized, limiting opportunity The Internet has turbocharged innovation by being one of the great equalizers in human history — but increasing consolidation of control threatens that progress. IPFS stays true to the original vision of an open, flat web by delivering technology to make that vision a reality.
Today's web is addicted to the backbone IPFS powers the creation of diversely resilient networks that enable persistent availability — with or without Internet backbone connectivity. This means better connectivity for the developing world, during natural disasters, or just when you're on flaky coffee shop wi-fi.
Install IPFS Join the future of the web right now — just choose the option that's right for you. Store and share files
IPFS Desktop IPFS for everyone The desktop app offers menubar/tray shortcuts and an easy interface for adding, pinning, and sharing files — plus a full IPFS node ready for heavy-duty hosting and development too. A great choice for devs and non-devs alike.
Command-line install All IPFS, no frills Just want IPFS in your terminal? Get step-by-step instructions for getting up and running on the command line using the Go implementation of IPFS. Includes directions for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
IPFS Companion Add IPFS to your browser Get ipfs:// URL support and much more in your web browser with this extension.
IPFS Cluster For servers or big data Automatically allocate, replicate, and track your data as pinsets across multiple IPFS nodes.
Build with IPFS
Go implementation The original IPFS, with core implementation, daemon server, CLI tooling, and more.
JS implementation Written entirely in JavaScript for a world of possibilities in browser implementations.
Here's how IPFS works Take a look at what happens when you add a file to IPFS.
Your file, and all of the blocks within it, is given a unique fingerprint called a cryptographic hash.
IPFS removes duplications across the network.
Each network node stores only content it is interested in, plus some indexing information that helps figure out which node is storing what.
When you look up a file to view or download, you're asking the network to find the nodes that are storing the content behind that file's hash.
You don't need to remember the hash, though — every file can be found by human-readable names using a decentralized naming system called IPNS. Take a closer look Want to dig in? Hands-on learner? Curious where it all began? IPFS can help here and now No matter what you do with the web, IPFS helps make it better today.
Archivists IPFS provides deduplication, high performance, and clustered persistence — empowering you to store the world's information for future generations.
Service providers Providing large amounts of data to users? IPFS offers secure, peer-to-peer content delivery — an approach that could save you millions in bandwidth costs.
Researchers If you're working with or distributing large data sets, IPFS can help provide fast performance and decentralized archiving.
Developing world High-latency networks are a big barrier for those with poor internet infrastructure. IPFS provides resilient access to data independent of latency or backbone connectivity.
Blockchains With IPFS, you can address large amounts of data and put immutable, permanent links in transactions — timestamping and securing content without having to put the data itself on-chain.
Content creators IPFS brings the freedom and independent spirit of the web in full force — and can help you deliver your content at a much lower cost.
Who's already using IPFS? Companies and organizations worldwide are already building amazing things on IPFS. News and more IPFS blog 26 August 2020 IPFS Weekly 102 19 August 2020 IPFS Weekly 101 14 August 2020 Reliving the IPFS August 2020 Meetup 12 August 2020 IPFS Weekly 100 🎉 In the media TechCrunch Why The Internet Needs IPFS Before It’s Too Late Motherboard IPFS Wants to Create a Permanent Web MakeUseOf Faster, Safer, Decentralized Internet With IPFS Videos
Why IPFS?
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