The Interplanetary File System (IPFS) is a revolutionary protocol that mimics a blockchain design to decentralize data storage. Juan Benet created it to make Filecoin more open and faster, but over time, it has found so many applications in other niches.IPFS is still growing as a protocol as more projects leverage its technology. It comes with several advantages, making it a great contender that might define the future of the web.
1. Decentralization
Traditional data storage methods which rely on centralized servers are susceptible to outages. That’s a challenge that has long plagued the current version of the internet. IPFS brings decentralization to data storage as it adopts a peer-to-peer model where each node in a network has a copy of data, just likeon a blockchain.
When data is uploaded, IPFS breaks it down into small pieces, which are hashed and given CIDs (Content Identifiers). These pieces are then spread through the network, with each participating node keeping a cached copy similar to the initial node. As such, every data uploaded to the network is decentralized and thus accessible even when the original node is offline.
Textile, a software company that creates tools for DApp developers, integrates IPFS in its storage service, whilePowergateallows developers to store data in a decentralized manner with replication and redundancy. This strategy helps them create more resilient applications.
2. Enhanced Security
Based on theIBM 2022 Cost of a Data Breach Report, data breaches cost companies an average of $4.35 million. That’s enough to hire a cybersecurity engineer with an annual salary of $160,000 for 27 years. Companies struggle to keep their data secure, oblivious to the inherent capabilities of IPFS to enhance their data security.
IPFS uses cryptographic hash functions to identify files, ensuring content integrity and secure data transfer. This method eliminates the risk of data alteration because the slightest change in content generates a different hash. While it does not provide encryption natively, developers can implement additional layers of encryption to prevent unauthorized parties from reading the data.
Pinata, a data hosting service built on IPFS, leverages its key security feature, content addressing using cryptographic hashes, to allow developers and businesses to upload, store and manage data. In addition, data is encrypted on the client side before being uploaded on the platform, ensuring only authorized parties have access.
3. High Performance and Scalability
The internet is functional, but it’s not always at its best. Internet users, especially heavy users like gamers, often have to contend with latency depending on their location and internet package. On the other hand, data storage providers might struggle when there’s a sudden spike in traffic that their servers can’t handle, causing them to crash.
First, IPFS’speer-to-peer architectureenables parallel content fetching from multiple nodes simultaneously. The more nodes join the network, the more bandwidth it can handle. Secondly, its geo-location awareness design allows content to be fetched from the nearest nodes. Lastly, content addressing and caching reduces the need to retrieve data from the source repeatedly. All these factors improve performance and scalability.
DTubewas built to become a censorship-resistant alternative to traditional centralized video platforms like YouTube. IPFS forms its content storage system. When a video is requested, IPFS retrieves the video data from multiple nodes simultaneously, making video playback faster and more efficient. Also, as long as new nodes continue to join the network, it’s infinitely scalable.
4. Persistence and Permanence
In the current web infrastructure, there’s always a risk of content removal from the original server either because of a lack of payment for hosting, data breaches, or system failure that leads to data loss. When it happens, its results in broken links and loss of access.
IPFS addresses this problem through its content-addressed model. Files are identified and retrieved based on their hash, not their location, ensuring persistence. Even if the original provider goes offline, the file can still be accessed from other nodes that hold a copy. This feature supports the permanence of digital content, preserving it for future generations.
Arweave, a data storage network, integrates IPFS in its architecture to create a decentralized and permanent data solution. Users who want to store data on Arweave pay a one-time “perpetual endowment” fee distributed to all nodes that store and replicate the data. The data remains in the network indefinitely.
5. Improved Content Control
The internet is run by a few major companies that own most of the data storage infrastructure in the world. That means control over data distribution is in the hands of a few. We can only do so much if our data is removed from these platforms.
However, if we leverage IPFS to store data, we will have more control over its distribution. Whenever data is uploaded to IPFS by a provider, it is fetched by others who store a copy of the data on their nodes. Similarly, when you download content from IPFS, you become an extra storage node in the network. This system democratizes content distribution enabling users to share information directly and maintain control over their data.
For instance,Steem, a decentralized social media platform, uses IPFS to store multimedia content users upload. This approach ensures that the content remains controlled by the users who hold private keys to their accounts. Only they can modify or delete the data.
6. Easier Data Archiving
After years of operation, companies amass a large amount of data they no longer use. Deleting this data might not be an option for them, so they use physical storage devices or paycloud storage platformsto archive it. Both strategies have disadvantages, risk of damage or loss for physical devices, and costly, centralized services for cloud storage.
With IPFS, archiving becomes significantly easier and more efficient. The system uses deduplication, storing identical parts of data only once, which, combined with the version control feature, makes IPFS ideal for data archiving. It ensures that even historical versions of files are preserved while reducing storage needs.
TheInterPlanetary Waybackis an excellent example of how this works. It’s similar to theInternet Archive Wayback Machinebut uses IPFS to archive the web. It stores snapshots of websites on the network, assigning each a unique CID and distributing it across multiple nodes to ensure resilience. People will access historical versions of the web without relying on centralized servers.
7. Offline Browsing
Offline browsing is not a new concept. Mobile app and website developers understand how important it is to enhance user experience. It involves downloading data from the internet when connected and saving it for offline access.
IPFS takes offline browsing to the next level. It enables users to store and retrieve content directly from their local cache of nearby nodes enabling browsing without a continuous internet connection. The approach is well-suited for applications prioritizing accessibility in environments with intermittent connectivity.
To power its mission of delivering educational content in areas without broadband internet,EdChainuses an open-source system powered by IPFS and blockchain technology. Through it, students can interact with teachers when connected to the internet and access studying material when disconnected.
The Future of the Internet Is Decentralized
Undoubtedly, blockchain technology will play a significant role in Web3 because it can decentralize any digital asset. IPFS technology functions similarly by decentralizing storage resources. Notably, it offers numerous benefits that will revolutionize how we interact with data online. It promotes a secure, resilient, accessible, user-centric internet. And for those reasons, it will shape the future of the internet as we know it.
