Do you know how the internet works? How the websites you visit daily function?

Website files are uploaded onto a server and linked to a 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 website look like? How would it function, and what benefits would 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 sophisticated directory with gamification features, but as long as it's hosted on a network of independent nodes, it's a decentralized website.

Traditionally, websites are hosted on centralized servers provided by a small group of well-funded companies. While this system is functional, 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 it cannot be censored, and a single node failing does not affect site accessibility.

How Does a Decentralized Website Work?

A decentralized website differs from traditional websites regarding how its files are stored. Instead of hosting the files in one server, files are broken into bits and distributed across a network of computers.

The protocols that power these networks of nodes adopt peer-to-peer networking as the foundational architecture. Some also use blockchain technology principles to achieve better data security and efficiency.

One such protocol is the Interplanetary File System (IPFS), which borrows from Bitcoin blockchain technology, especially regarding data storage architecture and node-addressing 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, the files are fetched from multiple nodes. This approach significantly reduces the incidence of single-point failure, which is common in centralized server systems. However, the obvious concern with this system is whether data integrity can be maintained within the decentralized network of independent nodes, i.e., whether the site you are visiting is genuine.

IPFS, again borrowing from blockchain, employs cryptographic hashing, which ensures through continuous verification that the copy of a website's file on a node has not been tampered with before it's fetched. You can rest assured that you're visiting the right site when you use the correct link.

Besides website hosting design, decentralized websites differ from centralized websites in a few other aspects.

1. Website development: Creating decentralized websites can involve Web3 tools and languages besides the standard Web2 counterparts. This allows decentralized websites to leverage blockchain technology, for instance, using smart contracts to design automations.
2. Domain name system: Due to the hosting architecture of decentralized websites, files can't be served using the standard DNS. Instead, they use Web3 domain name systems such as Ethereum Name System and Unstoppable Domains.
3. Website access: Decentralized websites adopt different protocols from Web2 websites and thus can't be accessed with standard browser settings. For instance, one needs a few settings tweaks to access Unstoppable Domains websites.
4. Data retrieval and delivery: Nodes in a decentralized network work together to find website files and deliver them directly to a user's browser. There's no intermediary involved as in Web2; hence, it creates a lot of efficiency and lowers the risk of hacks.

In many ways, decentralized websites are an upgrade from Web2 websites. These unique upsides of this innovative technology are likely to steer 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 offers a seamless and user-friendly experience for users to create, collaborate on, and export Markdown documents, all within a web browser. Much like Google Docs, PeerPad empowers users to harness the power of Markdown language without needing specialized software or installations.

2. Snapshot

Snapshot is a decentralized voting platform for Web3 projects, DAOs, and online communities. It employs "off-chain voting," wherein the cryptographic signatures that validate user votes are securely recorded and maintained on IPFS instead of clogging up the supported blockchains with these data points.

3. Killcord

Killcord is a censorship-resistant website for creating switches used to release encrypted data securely. Killcord relies on Ethereum and IPFS. The owner of the Killcord project maintains a confidential key from public view by regularly interacting with a smart contract.

If they cease interaction for a predefined duration, the Killcord mechanism is activated, leading to the publication of the secret key required for decrypting the encrypted data.

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

Advantages of Decentralized Websites

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

• Increased security: Since decentralized websites are not stored on a single server, they are less vulnerable to traditional hacks and cyberattacks. The distributed nature of data storage makes it harder for malicious actors to compromise the entire network.
• Censorship resistance: Decentralized websites are resistant to censorship 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 restrict access to the content.
• Network resilience: Decentralized websites are more resilient in the face of server failures or other technical issues. Content is distributed across multiple nodes, ensuring the website remains accessible even if some nodes go offline.
• 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 accessibility, monetization opportunities for participants in decentralized hosting, and participation in platform governance.

Disadvantages of Decentralized Websites

While decentralized websites offer numerous advantages, they also come with their own set of disadvantages and challenges.

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

These challenges significantly drag the adoption of decentralized websites. However, the decentralized web is evolving, and these concerns will be addressed with time.

Decentralized Websites Will Become More Common

The evolution of the internet into a more decentralized model is a possibility. Factors such as the eminence of distributed ledger technologies, growing interest in Web3, and the rising concerns about online privacy and government censorship are steering this development.

So, more decentralized websites will likely be launched with time as long as developers continue to find solutions to the limitations of a decentralized web. Therefore, a hybrid internet landscape with centralized and decentralized components coexisting is imminent.