InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) Meaning

A decentralized, peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol that aims to make the web faster, safer, and more open. Unlike the traditional web (HTTP), which identifies files by their location on a specific server, IPFS identifies files by their "content"-a unique cryptographic hash of the file itself.

This "content-addressing" means that as long as at least one node on the network is hosting a file, it can be found and downloaded by anyone. It makes the web much more resilient to censorship and server failures; if a central website goes down, the files can still be retrieved from other users in the "mesh" network.

IPFS is the standard for storing the "metadata" of NFTs. When you buy an NFT, the image itself is often stored on IPFS, ensuring that the "art" will exist as long as the network exists, even if the marketplace where you bought it goes out of business.

It is a foundational piece of the decentralized web (Web3).