InterPlanetary File System (IPFS)
Web3 / web3
IPFS is a decentralized, peer-to-peer file storage and sharing protocol that replaces the traditional location-based addressing model with content-based addressing using cryptographic hashing. Users can store data across a distributed network of nodes rather than relying on centralized servers, improving resilience, censorship resistance, and data availability. Files are identified by their content hash rather than server location, meaning identical content is stored once and referenced many times, creating a permanent, distributed archive that persists as long as nodes choose to seed it.
Example
NFT metadata and media files are frequently stored on IPFS to ensure permanence and decentralization, with Ethereum contracts referencing IPFS hashes (like ipfs://QmXxxx) instead of centralized URLs that could break or be censored.
Why It Matters
IPFS provides the decentralized storage layer essential for true Web3 applications, preventing dependency on centralized servers while ensuring data ownership and availability—critical for NFTs, dApps, and governance documents.
Definition maintained by Cointegrity. See our editorial policy for review standards on regulatory and compliance terms.
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