Despite being a global network, the World Wide Web's data storage is mostly centralized. Traditional storage servers, physical or virtual, store user data, which a single organization often controls.
The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) was created to address privacy concerns associated with centralized data storage and protect data sovereignty. IPFS is a unique decentralized Web3 storage system, which is a major improvement in file storage and retrieval.
What is IPFS?
Juan Benet, a computer engineer and founder of Protocol Labs, launched IPFS in 2015. Currently, it is maintained by the Protocol Labs group, which also produced Filecoin, a blockchain technology-based cryptocurrency and collaborative digital storage and data retrieval system
The goal of IPFS is to establish a completely decentralized storage system that can operate over different protocols, such as FTP and HTTP. In simple terms, IPFS is a distributed peer-to-peer (P2P) system for files, webpages, apps, and data that can be shared, stored, and accessed easily.
How Does IPFS Work?
IPFS links are based on the distinct hash identification on each file, compared to the location-based links used by the traditional web. IPFS distributes files over several computers, breaks them up into smaller pieces, and gives each piece a hash so users can find them. This helps to identify which nodes are hosting the file or website. It is later sent to the user over a peer-to-peer connection.
Although IPFS isn't built on blockchain, it is similarly immutable in that the contents can not be modified without affecting the hash itself. To make sure that the complete history is preserved, IPFS provides a versioning mechanism that enables you to upload new versions of files and relate them to older ones.
Use Cases of IPFS
IPFS is used for a variety of purposes, including file storage security, file delivery, and effective file sharing on a global scale. For public blockchains and other P2P systems, IPFS can function as an additional file system.
Some of the use cases of IPFS are:
1. Decentralized File Sharing
Users can exchange files directly with one another by using IPFS' decentralized file-sharing platform without having to depend on centralized servers or external providers. Sharing huge files, such as music or video files, which can be challenging to send using conventional means, might be easier because of this.
2. Decentralized Storage
Instead of storing data on a single server, IPFS enables users to store files in a decentralized way. This distributes the data around a network of nodes. This can offer a more private and secure storage option as well as help speed up and ease data availability.
3. Content Distribution
Distributing data among nodes in a network can help lower latency and speed up downloads, particularly for big files or widespread content. This can be very helpful in reaching a larger audience without depending on centralized platforms.
4. Decentralized Apps (dApps)
Distributed networks of nodes can run decentralized applications (dApps) built using IPFS. Compared to their traditional centralized counterparts, this allows higher dependability, scalability, security, and privacy.
5. Permanent Web Hosting
With IPFS, users can store data online for a longer time, without worrying about it being pulled down or deleted. This is particularly useful when hosting information that might be disputable, sensitive, or censored.
6. Storage of NFT Data
IPFS provides incentives for data storage. This combination has the potential to be crucial for the creation and storage of nonfungible token (NFT) data.
Disadvantages of IPFS
The adoption of IPFS is one of the primary problems. When compared to conventional web protocols, its general adoption has been delayed, despite its hopeful qualities. A few of the disadvantages of IPFS are:
1. Scalability
When working with huge quantities of data, scalability and performance can be difficult. Although IPFS is built to manage massive content delivery, performance could be affected by network constraints.
2. Absence of User-Friendly Interfaces
Users who don’t have the technical know-how may find it challenging to access and engage with IPFS. Considering the network's command-line interface and developer APIs, IPFS may not become as widely utilized by users who lack the expertise needed to use it properly.
3. Limited Support by Developers
Although an increasing number of apps are being built using IPFS, it is still a very fresh and developing technology. Because of this, resources and help for developers who are just starting with IPFS may be limited.
Future of IPFS in Web3
Since its launch in 2015, the IPFS P2P file-sharing network has grown in popularity. As a result of its unique uses, it provides an alternative to the conventional client-server design.
By increasing the scalability of dApps, the IPFS protocol has already completely changed the field of cryptocurrency and received popularity across several sectors, including media and banking.
Additionally, more browsers are beginning to support Unstoppable Domains, a service that offers simpler-to-remember URLs pointing to IPFS content. IPFS is a major player in the future of web technology because of its decentralized and content-addressable structure.
Conclusion
IPFS is a unique and promising approach to file sharing and storage in the form of a decentralized, peer-to-peer network. Like many Web3 platforms, IPFS is not as intuitive and seamless to use as normal websites, although this should change in the future.
As the internet continues to grow and confront new problems, IPFS may play an increasingly crucial role in guaranteeing a more durable, censorship-resistant, and decentralized network.
