What is a decentralized website? How does the decentralized web work?

Do you know how the Internet works? How do the websites you visit every day perform?

Website files are uploaded to the server and linked to the domain name that people use to access the website. If the server goes down, the website becomes inaccessible because it is centralized.

So what would a decentralized web look like? How will it work and what benefits does it have over a traditional website?

What is a decentralized website?

A decentralized website is a website hosted on a decentralized network. It can be a static website or a complex directory with gamification features, but as long as it is hosted on a network of independent nodes, it is a decentralized website.

Traditionally, websites were hosted on centralized servers provided by a small group of companies. Although the system still functions normally, centralized servers are susceptible to a single point of failure and can be censored.

Decentralized web hosting exists as a solution to these shortcomings. It ensures a website's data is distributed across thousands of computers globally, which means that data cannot be censored and a failed node will not affect the website's accessibility.

How does a decentralized website work?

A decentralized website differs from traditional websites in the way it hosts its files. Instead of hosting files in a server, they are broken into bits and distributed across a computer network.

 The protocols that support these node networks use peer-to-peer networks as the underlying architecture. Some also use blockchain technology principles to achieve better efficiency and data security.

One such protocol is the Interplanetary File System (IPFS), which borrows from Bitcoin blockchain technology, especially in terms of data host architecture and node address design.

Nodes simultaneously act as clients and servers in IPFS. Users join the network and set up their computers as nodes. Whenever a user visits a decentralized website, files are fetched from multiple nodes. This approach significantly reduces single-point failure rates, which often occur in centralized server systems. However, the obvious concern with this system is whether data integrity can be maintained in a decentralized network of independent nodes, i.e. whether the website you are visiting is the right one. genuine website or not.

IPFS, again borrowing from blockchain, uses a cryptographic hash function, ensuring through continuous verification that the copy of a website's files on a node has not been tampered with before it is fetched. You can rest assured that you are visiting the correct website when you use the correct link.

Besides website host design, decentralized websites differ from centralized websites in a number of other aspects.

1. Website development : Creating decentralized websites may involve Web3 tools and languages ​​in addition to standard Web2. This allows decentralized websites to take advantage of blockchain technology, such as using smart contracts to design automation.
2. Domain Name System : Due to the hosting structure of decentralized websites, files cannot be served using standard DNS. Instead, they use Web3 domain name systems such as Ethereum Name System and Unstoppable Domains.
3. Website Access : Decentralized websites adopt many different protocols from Web2 websites and are therefore not accessible using standard browser settings. For example, one needs to edit some settings to access Unstoppable Domains websites.
4. Data retrieval and distribution : Nodes in the decentralized network work together to find website files and deliver them directly to the user's browser. There is no intermediary involved as in Web2; thus, increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of hacking.

 In many ways, decentralized websites are an upgrade from Web2 websites. The unique advantages of this innovative technology are likely to accelerate its adoption.

Examples of decentralized websites

Decentralized websites exist to take advantage of the benefits of decentralized hosting. Here are some practical examples.

1. PeerPad

PeerPad is an online platform that provides a seamless and user-friendly experience for users to create, collaborate, and export Markdown documents, all in a web browser. Like Google Docs, PeerPad allows users to harness the power of the Markdown language without the need for installation or specialized software.

2. Snapshots

 Snapshot is a decentralized voting platform for Web3 projects, DAOs and online communities. It uses "off-chain voting", where cryptographic signatures validating users' votes are securely recorded and maintained on IPFS, instead of clogging the supported blockchains with data points. This.

3. Killcord

Killcord is an anti-censorship website that creates switches used to securely release encrypted data. Killcord is based on Ethereum and IPFS. Killcord project owners maintain private keys from public view by regularly interacting with smart contracts.

If they stop interacting for a predetermined period of time, the Killcord mechanism will be triggered, resulting in the release of the secret key needed to decrypt the encrypted data.

These are just a few of the many decentralized websites that exist. However, the challenge of finding these sites is worth noting, considering the need for a sophisticated indexing engine like Google for Web2 sites.

Advantages of decentralized web

Decentralized websites offer several advantages over traditional centralized ones. Here are some key benefits:

1. Increased security : Because decentralized websites are not hosted on a single server, they are not as vulnerable to cyberattacks as traditional ones. The distributed nature of data hosting makes it more difficult for malicious actors to compromise the entire network.
2. Censorship-resistant : Decentralized websites are censorship-resistant because they are not controlled by a single entity or hosted on a centralized server. This makes it difficult for governments or other authorities to shut down or limit access to content.
3. Network Resilience : Decentralized websites are more resilient to server failures or other technical problems. Content is distributed across multiple nodes, ensuring the website remains accessible even when some nodes are offline.
4. Enhanced Privacy : Users of decentralized websites often have greater control over their personal data. They can choose what information to share and with whom, reducing the risk of their data being harvested or sold without their consent.

Other notable benefits include global reach, monetization opportunities for decentralized hosting participants, and participation in platform governance.

Disadvantages of decentralized web

 While decentralized websites offer many advantages, they also have their own disadvantages and challenges.

1. Limited user base : Decentralized websites often have a smaller user base than popular centralized platforms. This can limit the reach and impact of content and applications hosted on decentralized networks.
2. User Experience : The user experience on decentralized websites is often less refined and user-friendly than on centralized websites. This can include issues with interface design, speed, and compatibility with existing web technologies.
3. Lack of content moderation : Decentralized websites can have difficulty with content moderation and quality control. Because they are censorship-resistant, they can also host illegal or harmful content without effective removal mechanisms.

These challenges significantly hinder the adoption of decentralized websites. However, the decentralized web is evolving and these concerns will be resolved over time.