IPFS gateways act as intermediaries that enable access to content stored on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) without requiring users to run an IPFS node. They translate HTTP requests into IPFS-compatible retrievals, allowing web browsers and applications to fetch decentralized data seamlessly. These gateways help bridge traditional internet infrastructure with IPFS, making decentralized storage more accessible. Some provide caching and performance optimizations to speed up content delivery and reduce network strain. They can be either public, allowing open access to IPFS data, or private, offering controlled access for specific use cases. By simplifying connectivity to IPFS, gateways play a crucial role in expanding the adoption of decentralized web technologies.
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QuickNode
QuickNode
Empowering blockchain innovation with seamless, global infrastructure solutions.QuickNode streamlines blockchain infrastructure for both large and small teams. It offers a rapid global API that provides immediate access to a variety of networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Bitcoin, Polygon, BSC, Fantom, Avalanche, Terra, Celo, Optimism, Arbitrum, Algorand, Harmony, and Gnosis (xDai). Users can retrieve chain data through JSON-RPC via HTTPS or WebSocket endpoints. Additionally, an analytics dashboard allows for usage monitoring, while fast deployment tools like one-click WebHooks enhance efficiency for smart contract events, NFT, and ERC20 token APIs. With thousands of nodes successfully launched and a reputation for reliability among leading blockchain projects and businesses, QuickNode has been a pivotal force in the growth of the blockchain ecosystem since its inception in 2017. Its commitment to innovation continues to empower developers and foster new opportunities within the space. -
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Cloudflare serves as the backbone of your infrastructure, applications, teams, and software ecosystem. It offers protection and guarantees the security and reliability of your external-facing assets, including websites, APIs, applications, and various web services. Additionally, Cloudflare secures your internal resources, encompassing applications within firewalls, teams, and devices, thereby ensuring comprehensive protection. This platform also facilitates the development of applications that can scale globally. The reliability, security, and performance of your websites, APIs, and other channels are crucial for engaging effectively with customers and suppliers in an increasingly digital world. As such, Cloudflare for Infrastructure presents an all-encompassing solution for anything connected to the Internet. Your internal teams can confidently depend on applications and devices behind the firewall to enhance their workflows. As remote work continues to surge, the pressure on many organizations' VPNs and hardware solutions is becoming more pronounced, necessitating robust and reliable solutions to manage these demands.
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Filebase
Filebase
"Secure, efficient, and redundant decentralized object storage made easy."Filebase stands out as the pioneering platform for object storage that is compatible with S3, enabling secure, efficient, and redundant data storage across various decentralized networks. By providing a user-friendly web console dashboard, Filebase simplifies the process of utilizing IPFS and decentralized storage, allowing users to easily drag and drop their files onto Web3. Additionally, it features an S3-compatible API that facilitates seamless integration into existing workflows and configurations. The service also includes a geo-redundant IPFS pinning feature, which ensures that files are pinned across multiple geographic locations, with all uploads automatically receiving threefold replication through the Filebase infrastructure. This design guarantees that your data remains accessible and protected globally, providing peace of mind for users. Furthermore, Filebase's commitment to redundancy and performance makes it a reliable choice for those looking to leverage the advantages of decentralized storage solutions. -
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DTube
DTube
Experience seamless video sharing in a truly decentralized ecosystem!To maintain the authentic decentralization of D.Tube, it is crucial that we refrain from operating a server that utilizes a database for any querying functions. The Avalon blockchain is an excellent choice because of its rapid performance and ease of use, allowing users to participate without the burden of currency deposits or transaction fees. After all, why would anyone want to incur costs just to upload a video, leave a comment, or cast an upvote? The straightforward answer is that they simply wouldn’t. Each video uploaded to D.Tube is converted into Avalon content, opening doors for potential rewards, and users can also distribute their creations on the Steem and Hive blockchains, leveraging Dtube's interoperable functionalities. Furthermore, IPFS acts as a decentralized file storage protocol, based on the principles of Distributed Hash Tables (DHT), akin to the technology that powers the BitTorrent network. Like how cryptocurrencies use asymmetric cryptography, DHT networks apply hashing to efficiently locate files, ensuring both security and efficacy in data retrieval. This groundbreaking method not only improves accessibility but also strengthens the fundamental principles of decentralization that are vital to the ecosystem, promoting a more open and user-friendly environment for content creators. In this way, D.Tube champions a more equitable digital landscape for all participants. -
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Eternum
Eternum
Effortless IPFS pinning, seamless integration, guaranteed file accessibility.Eternum provides an intuitive IPFS pinning service that guarantees your files remain continuously accessible. With its user-friendly API, you can easily integrate it into your applications, allowing for the creation of short, clear URLs that link directly to the latest version of your content. Users can conveniently upload files via the Eternum website, which negates the requirement for any local IPFS installation. Moreover, our Hearth desktop client simplifies the publishing process; you can publish files just by saving them to your desktop. Our clear and transparent daily billing system allows you to keep a close eye on your costs, ensuring you are only charged for the services you utilize. Files that are accessed through our gateway benefit from rapid delivery, thanks to our extensive global content delivery network (CDN), which significantly improves accessibility and performance for users around the world. All these features make Eternum an outstanding solution for effectively managing your IPFS files, catering to both individual users and businesses alike. -
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Infura
Infura
Empower your decentralized app with seamless infrastructure solutions.Infura provides exceptional infrastructure tailored to support the growth of your decentralized application as it adapts to increasing user demand. Our instant access APIs enable you to quickly integrate your application with ease. We support JSON-RPC through both HTTPS and WebSocket interfaces, which facilitate both request-based interactions and subscription connections. You can kickstart your experience with Infura by simply using one URL. Our dedicated team of professionals is available 24/7 to handle all network changes and upgrades, allowing you to focus on honing your application development skills. We are deeply committed to fostering a future powered by decentralized networks and protocols. Our infrastructure empowers developers, giving you the freedom to dedicate your efforts to innovation and creativity. Through the Infura dashboard, you can uncover valuable insights, add new applications, and much more. Should you need assistance or have questions, our lively community, real-time status page, and extensive documentation library are always at your disposal. Moreover, we take pride in cultivating a user-friendly atmosphere that promotes exploration, learning, and experimentation, ensuring that developers have the tools they need to succeed. This commitment to support and accessibility makes Infura an ideal partner for developers venturing into the decentralized space. -
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Pinata
Pinata
Effortless NFT sharing, fast support, endless creative possibilities.You have the freedom to share your NFT whenever, however, and wherever you choose, showcasing something that is not only vibrant but also distinctly yours. Long wait times can tarnish the experience, which is why we prioritize reliability and speed in our NFT services for everyone involved. Uploading your files is as effortless as a single click, ensuring a smooth process for all users. If you encounter any questions or need assistance, our dedicated support team is readily available to help. There's no requirement for technical expertise, as Pinata simplifies file storage from the very beginning. Whether your creations are images, videos, 3D files, or applications, sharing them with the world is uncomplicated. Pinata is built with developers in mind, offering robust APIs and SDKs that are ideal for crafting applications, NFT marketplaces, or any other innovative projects. You take center stage in your creative journey, while Pinata seamlessly operates in the background. With unparalleled support available through various channels, we are committed to ensuring that your experience is as enjoyable and efficient as possible. Ultimately, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to showcase their creativity without barriers. -
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IPFS
Protocol Labs
Empowering a decentralized web for resilient and equitable access.Traditional HTTP enables file downloads from a single server in a sequential manner, whereas peer-to-peer IPFS allows users to obtain file segments from various nodes at the same time, which leads to substantial reductions in bandwidth usage. This innovative approach can result in bandwidth savings of up to 60% for video files, facilitating the efficient distribution of large data sets without the risk of unnecessary duplication. It is noteworthy that the average lifespan of a web page is only 100 days before it vanishes completely, underscoring the precarious nature of our digital environment. This fleeting existence raises concerns, and IPFS responds by fostering resilient networks for data replication; moreover, its implementation of content addressing guarantees automatic versioning of files. Historically, the Internet has been a catalyst for innovation, serving as a powerful equalizer within society; however, the increasing centralization of authority presents a serious challenge to this advancement. By offering resources that uphold a fair and open web, IPFS is dedicated to realizing the foundational principles of a decentralized Internet. As we look ahead, it is essential for technologies like IPFS to thrive, ensuring that information remains not only accessible but also durable amidst ongoing transformations. Furthermore, the success of such platforms could pave the way for a more equitable digital future, allowing diverse voices to be heard and valued in the global conversation. -
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Temporal
Temporal
Streamline data management effortlessly, enhancing productivity and security.Temporal's streamlined APIs significantly lower expenses while enabling quick and easy management of large data streams for businesses across various scales. By utilizing Temporal, users can leverage resources that ensure rapid and secure expansion on the IPFS network, customized to fit any application requirements. Our specialized IPFS data center provides high-quality service and reliability to all clients. The adaptable IPFS framework allows the swift development of production-ready applications, using modern tools and programming languages such as Golang and JavaScript, along with a complimentary starter package that comprises turnkey APIs, toolkits, and storage solutions. The system is engineered for complete automation—simply set it up and begin utilizing its features. Temporal autonomously manages most processes, allowing users to avoid the necessity of deep knowledge about IPFS. Even data engineers with moderate skills can easily integrate the system into their workflow. Additionally, the deduplication and content addressing capabilities of IPFS improve both the efficiency and affordability of data management, while ensuring that the entire system can be secured with encryption. This blend of effectiveness and security empowers users to concentrate on their primary business functions without being overwhelmed by technical challenges, ultimately driving productivity and growth. -
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IPFS Cluster
IPFS Cluster
Enhance data management and redundancy in decentralized storage.IPFS Cluster significantly improves data management across a network of IPFS daemons by overseeing the allocation, replication, and monitoring of a robust pinset that spans various peers. As IPFS offers users the ability to utilize content-addressed storage, the need for a permanent web brings forth the requirement for solutions that ensure data redundancy and availability while maintaining the decentralized nature of the IPFS Network. Acting as a complementary tool for IPFS peers, IPFS Cluster sustains a cohesive cluster pinset and smartly distributes its elements among different IPFS peers. The peers forming the Cluster establish a distributed network that upholds an organized, replicated, and conflict-free record of pins, ensuring reliability. Users can efficiently ingest IPFS content to multiple daemons at once, thereby boosting operational effectiveness. Furthermore, each peer within the Cluster provides an IPFS proxy API that carries out cluster functions while seamlessly imitating the behavior of the API from the IPFS daemon. Built using Go, the Cluster peers can be initiated and overseen programmatically, facilitating easier integration into current workflows. This feature empowers developers to tap into the complete capabilities of decentralized storage solutions, ultimately enhancing their projects' functionality and resilience. Additionally, the innovative design of IPFS Cluster fosters collaboration among users and developers alike, creating a more robust ecosystem for decentralized applications. -
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Textile Buckets
Textile
Decentralized storage redefined: secure, collaborative, and user-friendly.If you are familiar with cloud storage concepts, grasping the idea of buckets will likely be easy for you. Unlike traditional cloud services, buckets operate on open and decentralized protocols such as IPFS and Libp2p. These buckets can host websites, applications, and various data types directly from their structure. The Hub gateway provides a user-friendly interface for navigating through your Buckets seamlessly. Moreover, you can present web content within your Bucket, enabling the development of a continuously available website. By employing IPNS, you can ensure that updates are automatically distributed across IPFS. Organizations benefit from collaborative management of Buckets, promoting effective teamwork among members. You also have the capability to set up private Buckets, granting your app users a safe environment to keep their data. For enhanced security and long-term access, Bucket data can be archived on Filecoin, providing an additional layer of protection. To set up a Bucket in your working directory, you must first initialize it, which can be achieved using an existing UnixFS DAG from the IPFS network or by importing it into a current bucket through an interactive process. Additionally, creating buckets that can be accessed by all organization members fosters stronger collaborative efforts and resource sharing. This versatile solution effectively addresses a wide array of storage requirements, making it suitable for various applications. -
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Ocean Protocol
Ocean Protocol Foundation
Transforming data into value, empowering innovation and collaboration.Ocean Protocol converts data potential into real-world value. With the Ocean Market platform, users and data providers can safely publish, discover, and leverage data while maintaining confidentiality. Furthermore, liquidity holders contribute to the ecosystem by staking their assets in data pools. Developers have the opportunity to build personalized data wallets and marketplaces by taking advantage of Ocean's libraries. The protocol integrates data services within widely accepted ERC20 tokens, enabling the creation of data wallets, exchanges, and collectives through the utilization of cryptocurrency wallets and decentralized finance (DeFi) mechanisms. Ocean streamlines both the publishing process (which includes deploying and minting ERC20 data tokens) and the utilization of data services (involving the exchange of data tokens). Consequently, typical crypto wallets evolve into data wallets, crypto exchanges morph into data marketplaces, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) can operate as data cooperatives. The utilization of data tokens acts as an essential bridge, linking data assets with blockchain and DeFi innovations. This pioneering strategy facilitates a smooth transition wherein crypto wallets are transformed into data wallets, exchanges turn into data marketplaces, and DAOs are adapted for collaborative data initiatives. This transformation marks a significant advancement in the management and monetization of data in the modern digital ecosystem, paving the way for more robust and innovative data interactions. The evolution of these systems ultimately enhances the overall efficiency and accessibility of data-driven solutions. -
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Viewblock
Viewblock
"Streamlining cryptocurrency management with innovative features and simplicity."Viewblock acts as our primary explorer and dashboard for all current networks, and we are consistently improving the resilience of our infrastructure. The method for obtaining a CSV export of your transactions has reached new levels of simplicity and thoroughness! We now support tokens and internal transactions while also developing further features. The official Zillion app allows you to stake your assets using a keystore, Ledger, or ZilPay, and no matter which interface you opt for, it's essential to stake through ViewBlock. To ensure your staking is executed correctly, you can easily check the Stakes tab linked to your address. In addition, we have recently added support for Zilliqa soft-confirmed transactions, enabling you to directly search for or query a pending transaction hash, which helps to eliminate any potential errors. You can also discover cryptocurrency addresses, navigate IPFS sites, view listings, upload content to IPFS, and conveniently connect your IPFS hash to your blockchain domain—all from a single platform. With these significant enhancements, managing your crypto transactions has never been more straightforward or efficient, ensuring a seamless user experience. As we continue to innovate, users can look forward to even more features that will further streamline their cryptocurrency management.
IPFS Gateways Buyers Guide
InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) is a peer-to-peer distributed file system designed to connect all computing devices with the same system of files. It allows for efficient and secure storage and sharing of data across a decentralized network. IPFS gateways serve as vital access points that enable users to interact with the IPFS network seamlessly. By providing a bridge between traditional web browsers and the decentralized IPFS network, gateways play a crucial role in facilitating the adoption and usability of IPFS for a wider audience.
Understanding IPFS and Its Structure
IPFS is built on a content-addressable network, meaning that data is identified and retrieved based on its content rather than its location. Each file in IPFS is assigned a unique hash, which serves as its address. This hash is derived from the file's content, ensuring that identical files will always have the same address. Some key features of IPFS include:
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Decentralization: Unlike traditional web systems that rely on centralized servers, IPFS operates on a distributed network of nodes. This reduces the risk of data loss or censorship, as files are stored across multiple locations.
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Efficiency: IPFS reduces bandwidth usage by allowing users to retrieve data from the nearest node that has it, improving loading times and reducing latency.
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Versioning: IPFS enables version control of files, allowing users to access different versions of a file easily, similar to how Git manages code repositories.
The Role of IPFS Gateways
IPFS gateways are crucial for making the decentralized web accessible to everyday users. They act as intermediaries that translate IPFS content into a format that standard web browsers can understand. The primary functions of IPFS gateways include:
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HTTP Access: Traditional web users typically access data via HTTP. IPFS gateways allow users to access IPFS content using a standard URL, which makes it easy for anyone to use IPFS without needing specialized software or a deep understanding of its underlying technology.
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Content Retrieval: Gateways fetch content from the IPFS network and deliver it to users. When a user requests an IPFS hash via a gateway, the gateway retrieves the corresponding content from the network and serves it to the user's browser, enabling seamless interaction with the decentralized web.
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Caching and Performance: Many IPFS gateways implement caching mechanisms to store frequently accessed content temporarily. This reduces the load on the IPFS network, speeds up content delivery, and enhances the overall user experience.
Advantages of Using IPFS Gateways
IPFS gateways offer numerous benefits, particularly in terms of accessibility and usability for individuals and organizations looking to leverage the power of decentralized storage. Some key advantages include:
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Ease of Use: Users can easily access IPFS content through familiar web protocols without needing to install additional software or tools. This lowers the entry barrier for those unfamiliar with decentralized technologies.
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Cross-Platform Compatibility: IPFS gateways can be accessed from any device with a web browser, regardless of the operating system or platform. This ensures broad accessibility for users.
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Enhanced Privacy and Security: By accessing content through IPFS gateways, users can benefit from the inherent security features of IPFS, such as content integrity and immutability, while also enjoying the privacy benefits associated with decentralized storage.
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Reduced Risk of Censorship: Because IPFS is decentralized, content is less susceptible to censorship. Even if a particular gateway goes down, users can still access the content from other nodes on the network, providing resilience against data loss or restriction.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the advantages of IPFS gateways, there are several challenges and considerations that users and developers must keep in mind:
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Reliability and Performance: The performance of IPFS gateways can vary significantly based on network congestion, the health of the nodes they rely on, and the caching strategies they employ. Users may experience slower access times if the content is not widely distributed or cached.
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Centralization Risks: While IPFS aims to promote decentralization, the reliance on specific gateways can lead to centralization risks if a small number of gateways dominate traffic. This could potentially undermine the benefits of a decentralized network if users become overly reliant on a few access points.
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Content Persistence: IPFS relies on the active participation of nodes to keep data available. If a file is not frequently accessed or if the nodes storing it become inactive, the content may become unavailable. This presents a challenge for long-term content persistence.
Future of IPFS Gateways
The future of IPFS gateways is closely tied to the growth and evolution of the IPFS network itself. As more users and developers adopt IPFS for various applications, including decentralized applications (dApps), content distribution networks, and secure data sharing, the demand for reliable and efficient gateways will likely increase. Innovations in gateway technology, such as enhanced caching strategies, performance optimization, and improved user interfaces, will further facilitate the use of IPFS.
In addition, the growing interest in decentralized technologies, including blockchain and Web3 initiatives, is expected to drive the development of more robust and diverse IPFS gateways. This could lead to a more vibrant ecosystem of services that enhance the user experience, improve data availability, and further promote the adoption of decentralized solutions.
Conclusion
IPFS gateways play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between traditional web users and the decentralized world of IPFS. By enabling easy access to content stored on a distributed network, they enhance usability and promote the adoption of decentralized technologies. While challenges such as reliability, centralization risks, and content persistence exist, the potential benefits of IPFS gateways far outweigh these concerns. As the decentralized web continues to evolve, IPFS gateways will remain essential in shaping the future of data storage, sharing, and access in a more open and resilient internet.