x + 2 = y
, and then you pass in x = 2
, then y = 4
. No matter how many times you run it, you will have the same answer if you keep passing in x = 2
. In the same way, IPFS creates CIDs for files that are reproducible. If you share a file of Pinnie.png
you will get the same CID every time. It is through this CID that content is fetched across the IPFS network, which each piece pointing to a blocks on different nodes, altogether building a cohesive piece of content.
ipfs://{CID}
or if you don’t have an IPFS node, you can use an IPFS Gateway like https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/{CID}
. This simple concept of CIDs give them several super powers.
QmVLwvmGehsrNEvhcCnnsw5RQNseohgEkFNN1848zNzdng
This was the first kind of IPFS CID that was used for several years, however over time a new version was developed called the V1. This version was more flexible and future proof, and looks something like this:
bafkreih5aznjvttude6c3wbvqeebb6rlx5wkbzyppv7garjiubll2ceym4
Both of these CIDs are the same content, a wonderful picture of Pinnie, however the cryptographic algorithm they were put through was different. Pinata has used the V0 for several years but now uses V1 for the previously mentioned reasons.