What is IPFS?

InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a decentralized, peer-to-peer protocol for sharing and storing files. It allows users to share and access files through a distributed network of nodes, rather than through a centralized server or authority.

It works by dividing files into smaller chunks and storing them on multiple nodes in the network. When a user wants to access a file, they can request it from the network and receive it from the nodes that have it stored. This allows for faster access to files, as the file can be retrieved from the closest node rather than having to be retrieved from a centralized location.

IPFS also uses a content-addressing system, which means that each file is assigned a unique identifier based on its content rather than its location. This makes it possible to access a file using its identifier, even if the file has been moved or copied to a different location.

In conclusion, IPFS is used for a variety of purposes, including sharing and distributing large files, storing data in a decentralized manner, and building decentralized applications (dApps). It is an open-source protocol that is implemented in a variety of programming languages and is supported by a large and active community of developers.