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[UXIT-1706] Enhance Clarity and Consistency in ‘What is Filecoin’ Section
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smagdali authored Nov 7, 2024
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47 changes: 40 additions & 7 deletions WELCOME.md
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description: >-
Filecoin is a peer-to-peer network that allows anyone to store and retrieve
data on the internet. Built-in economic incentives ensure that files are
stored and retrieved reliably and continuously.
Filecoin is a decentralized, peer-to-peer network enabling anyone to store and retrieve data over the internet. Economic incentives are built in, ensuring files are stored and accessible reliably over time.
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# Welcome to Filecoin Docs
# Welcome to the Filecoin documentation

Choose your own adventure
Choose your own path to start exploring Filecoin:

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="1f4a1">💡</span> <strong>Learn the basics</strong></td><td>Want to understand the fundamental concepts of Filecoin, but aren't sure where to start? The Basics section is the perfect place to begin your journey!</td><td></td><td><a href="basics/what-is-filecoin/">what-is-filecoin</a></td></tr><tr><td><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="1f527">🔧</span> <strong>Build with Filecoin</strong></td><td>Eager to build on top of the Filecoin network but aren't sure how to begin? Head over to the Developers section to find examples and guides to help build your project!</td><td></td><td><a href="smart-contracts/fundamentals/the-fvm.md">the-fvm.md</a></td></tr><tr><td><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="1f3d7">🏗️</span> <strong>Become a provider</strong></td><td>Starting up a provider node on the Filecoin network can be a daunting task. Head over to the Provider section to find out everything you need to know.</td><td></td><td><a href="storage-providers/basics/">basics</a></td></tr><tr><td><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="1f4ca">📊</span> <strong>Store data</strong></td><td>Want to store large amount of data on the Filecoin network? There are plenty of storage options that you can choose from! Check out the Store section for more information!</td><td></td><td><a href="basics/what-is-filecoin/storage-model.md">storage-model.md</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<td>💡 <strong>Learn the basics</strong></td>
<td>New to Filecoin and looking for foundational concepts? Start with the Basics section to understand the essentials and kick off your journey!</td>
<td></td>
<td><a href="basics/what-is-filecoin/">what-is-filecoin</a></td>
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<td>🔧 <strong>Build with Filecoin</strong></td>
<td>Ready to develop on the Filecoin network? Head to the Developers section for guides and examples to help bring your project to life.</td>
<td></td>
<td><a href="smart-contracts/fundamentals/the-fvm.md">the-fvm.md</a></td>
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<td>🏗️ <strong>Become a Storage Provider</strong></td>
<td>Thinking about running a provider node on Filecoin? Visit the Provider section for comprehensive guidance on getting started.</td>
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<td><a href="storage-providers/basics/">basics</a></td>
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<td>📊 <strong>Store data</strong></td>
<td>Looking to store large volumes of data? Explore the Store section to review the various storage options Filecoin offers.</td>
<td></td>
<td><a href="basics/what-is-filecoin/storage-model.md">storage-model.md</a></td>
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[Was this page helpful?](https://airtable.com/apppq4inOe4gmSSlk/pagoZHC2i1iqgphgl/form?prefill\_Page+URL=https://docs.filecoin.io/)
[Was this page helpful?](https://airtable.com/apppq4inOe4gmSSlk/pagoZHC2i1iqgphgl/form?prefill_Page+URL=https://docs.filecoin.io/)
15 changes: 8 additions & 7 deletions basics/what-is-filecoin/README.md
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description: >-
This section aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Filecoin to
developers and serves as a reference that developers can check back on.
This section offers a detailed overview of Filecoin for developers, serving as a go-to reference for their needs.
---

# What is Filecoin
# Introduction to Filecoin

Filecoin is a peer-to-peer network that stores files, with built-in economic incentives and cryptography to ensure files are stored reliably over time. In Filecoin, users pay to store their files on storage providers. Storage providers are computers responsible for storing files and proving they have stored them correctly over time. Anyone who wants to store their files or get paid for storing other users’ files can join Filecoin. Available storage, and the price of that storage, are not controlled by any single company. Instead, Filecoin facilitates open markets for storing and retrieving files that anyone can participate in.
Filecoin is a peer-to-peer network that enables reliable, decentralized file storage through built-in economic incentives and cryptographic proofs. Users pay storage providerscomputers that store and continuously prove file integrity—to securely store their files over time. Anyone can join Filecoin as a user seeking storage or as a provider offering storage services. Storage availability and pricing aren’t controlled by any single entity; instead, Filecoin fosters an open market for file storage and retrieval accessible to all.

Filecoin is built on top of the same software powering [IPFS protocol](https://docs.ipfs.tech/), which is a peer-to-peer distributed storage network that leverages [content addressing](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/content-addressing/) to allow permanent references to the data, and avoids relying on specific devices or cloud servers for addressing the content. Filecoin is different from IPFS because it has an incentive layer on top to incentivize contents to be reliably stored and accessed.
Filecoin is built on the same technology as the [IPFS protocol](https://docs.ipfs.tech/). IPFS is a distributed storage network that uses [content addressing](https://docs.ipfs.tech/concepts/content-addressing/) to provide permanent data references without dependency on specific devices or cloud providers. Filecoin differs from IPFS by introducing an incentive layer that promotes reliable storage and consistent access to data.

Filecoin enables several use cases, from Web3 native NFT and metaverse/game assets storage, incentivized permanent storage, to archiving Web2 datasets as a cheaper alternative to cloud storage. For example, [NFT.Storage](https://nft.storage/) utilizes Filecoin to provide a simple decentralized storage solution for NFT contents and metadata, while [Shoah Foundation](https://sfi.usc.edu/) and [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/) leverages Filecoin to backup their contents. Filecoin also supports a wide range of formats of data, including audio and video files, allowing Web3 platforms such as [Audius](https://audius.co/) and [Huddle01](https://huddle01.com/) to leverage Filecoin as the decentralized storage backend for music streaming and video conferencing.
Filecoin’s use cases are diverse, ranging from Web3-native NFT storage to metaverse and gaming assets, as well as incentivized, permanent storage. It also offers a cost-effective solution for archiving traditional Web2 datasets, making it a strong alternative to conventional cloud storage.

For instance, [NFT.Storage](https://nft.storage/) leverages Filecoin for decentralized NFT content and metadata storage. Likewise, organizations like the [Shoah Foundation](https://sfi.usc.edu/) and the [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/) use Filecoin for content preservation and backup.

Filecoin is compatible with various data types, including audio and video files. This versatility allows Web3 platforms like [Audius](https://audius.co/) and [Huddle01](https://huddle01.com/) to use Filecoin as a decentralized storage backend for music streaming and video conferencing.

[Was this page helpful?](https://airtable.com/apppq4inOe4gmSSlk/pagoZHC2i1iqgphgl/form?prefill\_Page+URL=https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin)
[Was this page helpful?](https://airtable.com/apppq4inOe4gmSSlk/pagoZHC2i1iqgphgl/form?prefill_Page+URL=https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin)
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