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View ChartInternet Computer (ICP) is a new way to create and run online services that does not rely on the servers of large companies. Instead, it uses a network of independent data centres, meaning everything runs directly on the blockchain. This allows developers to build and users to enjoy truly decentralized applications that are free from corporate clouds and other costly or insecure intermediaries.
ICP is a secure, open network on which you can store data and run programs. These programmes, known as decentralised applications or DApps, operate directly on the ICP network.
ICP brings the concept of serverless cloud services to the public internet, enabling almost any online service or system to be developed on a decentralised network. It uses 'canister software', which is an evolution of smart contracts.
On the ICP, these smart contracts are called canisters. Canisters are like digital containers that hold the code and data required to run a program. They can interact with web browsers, mobile apps and other canisters. This technology enables computers to connect and share information without the need for a central server, such as those provided by AWS or Google Cloud. It combines individual computers to create efficient subnetworks that can host these secure canisters.
ICP's goal is to create a new, open internet that offers users more control and better security. This vision is often referred to as the 'World Computer', in which everything runs on a decentralised network.
Nowadays, the internet is highly centralised. Many of the most widely used web applications are proprietary, closed-source and hosted by a small number of data centres controlled by major technology companies. Furthermore, if a single crucial data centre fails, large portions of the web can go down simultaneously. The ability of centralised, corporate web services providers to restrict or deplatform programmes is another major concern, particularly for privacy activists.
The Internet Computer aims to provide developers with a basic option by facilitating a more decentralised approach to application development, hosting and serving, enabling websites to be launched straight onto the public internet. The Internet Computer would encourage open source and transparent software development.
For example, if the Internet Computer were described in the MIT Technology Review, it would "move between servers owned by independent data centres around the world" rather than "run on a dedicated server in Google Cloud".
Imagine ICP as a means of exchanging cryptocurrency for computational power: the network sets a price according to how much processing power a developer's project needs. Once the cost is paid, the website will be able to access the public internet.
From social networks such as LinkedIn and TikTok, to software such as all the apps you know and love, to whole new apps that haven't even been conceived yet, the Internet makes it possible to build and run any type of program. The CanCan project, which the ICP team refers to as a 'decentralised TikTok', has made its source code publicly available as a proof of concept.
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TradeA detailed comparative breakdown of key features and architecture among Internet Computer (ICP), traditional Web2 cloud (AWS), and Ethereum (ETH):
| Comparison Dimension | Internet Computer (ICP) | AWS (Amazon Web Services) | Ethereum (ETH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture & Storage | Canister architecture with native WebAssembly support, executing and storing 100% full-stack data on-chain. | Centralized server clusters with high elasticity, but subject to single points of failure and censorship risks. | EVM-based, focused on ledger state and lightweight logic, with extremely expensive on-chain storage costs. |
| Decentralization & Censorship Resistance | Based on independent data center nodes and NNS governance, offering high censorship resistance and fault tolerance. | Fully centralized and controlled by a single corporation, bound by jurisdictional regulations and shutdown orders. | Highly decentralized with global validator nodes, strong censorship resistance, but relies on Layer 2 for scaling. |
| Gas Fees & Payment Model | Reverse Gas model where developers pay Cycles, offering a free and seamless user experience similar to Web2. | Pay-as-you-go model where developers/enterprises pay recurring fiat fees for resource usage. | Traditional user-pays model where senders must pay variable and often high ETH gas fees for every transaction. |
| Performance & Speed | Query requests respond in milliseconds; Update requests finalize in 1 to 2 seconds with high throughput. | Ultra-fast millisecond response times supported by global CDNs and massive processing throughput. | Processes around 15-30 transactions per second with slower finality, leading to congestion during peak times. |
Summary: ICP combines the high-performance computing capabilities of AWS with the decentralized trust of Ethereum, establishing a new standard for on-chain cloud infrastructure.
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