computer science

InterPlanetary File System

InterPlanetary File System is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand InterPlanetary File System rather than just read about it. In short: The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol, hypermedia and file sharing peer-to-peer network for sharing data using a distributed hash table to store provider information. By using content addressing, IPFS uniquely identifies each file in a global namespace that connects IPFS hosts, creating a distributed system of file storage and sharing.

InterPlanetary File System — illustration

Key takeaways

InterPlanetary File System belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect InterPlanetary File System to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of InterPlanetary File System from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a protocol, hypermedia and file sharing peer-to-peer network for sharing data using a distributed hash table to store provider information. By using content addressing, IPFS uniquely identifies each file in a global namespace that connects IPFS hosts, creating a distributed system of file storage and sharing. IPFS allows users to host and receive content in a manner similar to BitTorrent. As opposed to a centrally located server, IPFS is built around a decentralized system of user-operators who hold a portion of the overall data. Any user in the network can serve a file by its content address, and other peers in the network can find and request that content from any node who has it using a distributed hash table (DHT). In contrast to traditional location-based protocols like HTTP and HTTPS, IPFS uses content-based addressing to provide a decentralized alternative for distributing the World Wide Web.

History IPFS was created by Juan Benet, who later founded Protocol Labs in May 2014. An alpha version was launched in February 2015, and by October of the same year was described by TechCrunch as "quickly spreading by word of mouth." Network service provider Cloudflare started using IPFS in 2018 and launched its own IPFS gateway in 2022. In March 2020, the Opera browser provided access to the centralized resources of the Unstoppable Domains provider by hosting content in IPFS.

Design The InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a decentralized protocol, hypermedia, and peer-to-peer (P2P) network for distributed file storage and sharing. By using content-addressing, IPFS uniquely identifies files in a global namespace that interlinks IPFS hosts, creating a hypermedia system that enables efficient and reliable data distribution. IPFS allows users to host and receive content in a manner similar to BitTorrent. As opposed to a centrally located server, IPFS is built around a decentralized system of user-operators who hold a portion of the overall data, creating a resilient system of file storage and sharing. Any user in the network can serve a file by its content address, and other peers in the network can find and request that content from any node who has it using a distributed hash table (DHT). In contrast to BitTorrent, IPFS aims to create a single global network. This means that if two users publish a block of data with the same hash, the peers downloading content from one user will also exchange data with those downloading it from the second. Key features of IPFS include:

Content-addressed file storage: Each file is uniquely identified based on its content hash, ensuring data integrity and facilitating efficient retrieval. Peer-to-peer architecture: A distributed network of nodes facilitates direct file sharing without the need for centralized servers. Versioned file system: Supports file versioning and allows users to track changes over time. Interoperability with distributed applications: IPFS integrates with decentralized applications (dApps), offering a storage layer for blockchain and Web3 ecosystems. IPFS gateways allow browsers and tools that lack native IPFS support to access IPFS content over HTTP. Users may choose not to install an IPFS client on their device and instead use a public gateway. A list of these gateways is maintained on the IPFS GitHub page.

Applications

Filecoin is a cryptocurrency used to implement an IPFS-based cooperative storage cloud, also authored by Protocol Labs. The shadow libraries Anna's Archive and Library Genesis host books via IPFS. The Brave browser added support in 2021, however support for local nodes and the ipfs:// scheme was removed in 2024 due to low usage and lack of support. IPFS is used as a storage layer for some decentralized applications and Web3 projects, including NFT platforms and blockchain-based services, because content addressing and distributed storage can improve data persistence and reduce reliance on single centralized servers.

Anti-censorship The Catalan independence referendum, taking place in September–October 2017, was deemed illegal by the Constitutional Court of Spain and many related websites were blocked. Subsequently, the Catalan Pirate Party mirrored the website on IPFS to bypass the High Court of Justice of Catalonia order of blocking. During the block of Wikipedia in Turkey, IPFS was used to create a mirror of Wikipedia, which allowed access to archived static Wikipedia content despite the ban. The mirror has now been expanded to more languages, such as English, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. A collection of the mirrors can be viewed by using its CID at an IPFS Gateway.

Malware Phishing attacks have also been distributed through Cloudflare's IPFS gateway since July 2018. The phishing scam HTML is stored on IPFS, and displayed via Cloudflare's gateway. The connection shows as secure via a Cloudflare TLS certificate. The IPStorm botnet, first detected in June 2019, uses IPFS so it can hide its command-and-control amongst the flow of legitimate data on the IPFS network. Security researchers had previously identified the possibility of using IPFS as a botnet command-and-control system.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with InterPlanetary File System

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what InterPlanetary File System claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to InterPlanetary File System before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about InterPlanetary File System ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of InterPlanetary File System

In research: InterPlanetary File System appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses InterPlanetary File System in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: InterPlanetary File System is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Application layer protocols, Decentralized cloud computing, Distributed data storage, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for InterPlanetary File System outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study InterPlanetary File System in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what InterPlanetary File System means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain InterPlanetary File System out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is InterPlanetary File System in simple terms?

Why does InterPlanetary File System matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study InterPlanetary File System?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on InterPlanetary File System.