IPFS (InterPlanetary File System)

IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) is a peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol that identifies files by their content hash — a Content Identifier (CID) — rather than by server location. If two nodes hold the same file, they produce the same CID, so the network can retrieve it from whoever is nearest. This content-addressing model is the opposite of HTTP, where a URL points to a specific server that may go offline. In web3 applications, IPFS is a standard off-chain data layer: NFT metadata, artwork, and documents are stored on IPFS so they are not permanently pinned to the expensive blockchain — instead the on-chain record holds the immutable CID. For tokenized domains, IPFS can host a decentralized website that resolves when someone has an IPFS-capable gateway or browser extension, entirely bypassing conventional DNS servers. Namefi's vision includes letting domain NFT holders point their name to an IPFS site, combining blockchain-verified ownership with censorship-resistant web hosting — a core building block of the decentralized web. Source: IPFS Documentation — What Is IPFS.