What is Storj (STORJ)?
People who need cloud storage but don't want to depend on a single company's data centers can turn to Storj (STORJ), a network where files are broken into encrypted pieces and spread across independent computers around the world. STORJ, an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, is the payment and incentive layer of this network. Anyone with unused disk space can rent it out, and those who need storage pay for it with STORJ.
What role does STORJ play on the network?
STORJ connects the two sides of the Storj network. Node operators who provide storage space and bandwidth receive STORJ in return for their service. Users who want to store files pay for that storage with STORJ. Developers can also use the token as the payment layer when integrating Storj's storage service into their applications. Although STORJ is the network's default payment method, the protocol is designed to allow other payment options to be added later.
How does Storj handle files behind the scenes?
Before a file is uploaded to Storj, it is encrypted and split into small pieces on the user's device. These pieces are then sent to different storage nodes across the network; no single node holds the entire file. When the user requests the file back, the pieces are collected, decrypted with a key that only the user holds, and reassembled into the original file. Even the operator of a storage node cannot read the content of the piece they are storing.
Three components organize this process: storage nodes that offer disk space, uplink software that runs on the user's side, and satellites that coordinate interactions between nodes and users. Satellites also audit node reliability and distribute payments.
Where does Storj's resilience come from?
Because file pieces are kept on multiple nodes, a failure at any single point does not mean the whole file is lost. The network uses erasure coding to recreate missing pieces. Storj also offers an Amazon S3-compatible interface, so it can work with existing backup and file transfer tools. This lets users benefit from distributed storage without changing the software they already know.
