# Basics - [What is Filecoin](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin.md): This section offers a detailed overview of Filecoin for developers, serving as a go-to reference for their needs. - [Crypto-economics](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/crypto-economics.md): Crypto-economics is the study of how cryptocurrency can incentivize usage of a blockchain network. This page covers how Filecoin manages incentivization within the network. - [Blockchain](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/blockchain.md): A blockchain is a distributed database shared among nodes in a computer network. This page covers the design and functions of the Filecoin blockchain. - [Storage model](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/storage-model.md): A storage model defines how data is stored within a system. This page covers the basic aspects of Filecoin’s storage model. - [Storage market](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/storage-market.md): The storage market is the entry point where storage providers and clients negotiate and publish storage deals on-chain. - [Retrieval market](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/retrieval-market.md): The retrieval market facilitates the negotiation of retrieval deals for serving stored data to clients in exchange for FIL. - [Programming on Filecoin](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/programming-on-filecoin.md): Once data is stored, computations can be performed directly on it without needing retrieval. This page covers the basics of programming on Filecoin. - [Networks](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/what-is-filecoin/networks.md): The Filecoin network has several networks for testing, staging, and production purposes. This page provides information on available networks. - [The blockchain](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain.md): This section covers the basic concepts surrounding the Filecoin blockchain. - [Actors](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/actors.md): Actors are smart contracts that run on the Filecoin virtual machine (FVM) and are used to manage, query, and update the state of the Filecoin network. Smart contracts are small, self-executing blocks. - [Addresses](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/addresses.md): A Filecoin address is an identifier that refers to an actor in the Filecoin state. All actors (miner actors, the storage market actor, account actors) have an address. - [Blocks and tipsets](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/blocks-and-tipsets.md): Like many other blockchains, blocks are a fundamental concept in Filecoin. Unlike other blockchains, Filecoin is a chain of groups of blocks called tipsets rather than a chain of individual blocks. - [Consensus](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/consensus.md): In the Filecoin blockchain, network consensus is achieved using the Expected Consensus (EC) algorithm, a secret, fair, and verifiable consensus protocol used by the network to agree on the chain state - [Drand](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/drand.md): Drand, pronounced dee-rand, is a distributed randomness beacon daemon written in Golang. - [Proofs](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/the-blockchain/proofs.md): In Filecoin cryptographic proving systems, often simply referred to as proofs, are used to validate that a storage provider (SP) is properly storing data. - [Assets](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets.md): The section covers the assets you can find on the Filecoin network, along with how to securely manage and use them. - [The FIL token](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets/the-fil-token.md): FIL is the cryptocurrency that powers the Filecoin network. This page explains what FIL is, how it can be used, and its denominations. - [Wallets](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets/wallets.md): Wallets provide a way to securely store Filecoin, along with other digital assets. These wallets consist of a public and private key, which work similarly to a bank account number and password. - [Metamask setup](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets/metamask-setup.md): MetaMask is a popular browser extension that allows users to interact with blockchain applications. This guide shows you how to configure MetaMask to work with the Filecoin - [Get FIL](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets/get-fil.md): The most common way to get FIL is to use an exchange. You should be aware of some specific steps when trying to transfer FIL from an exchange to your wallet. - [Transfer FIL](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/assets/transfer-fil.md): Due to the nature of Filecoin and Ethereum having different address types in the Filecoin network, the process for transferring FIL between addresses can be a bit nuanced. - [Interplanetary consensus](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/interplanetary-consensus.md): InterPlanetary Consensus (IPC) powers planetary-scale decentralized applications (dApps) through horizontal scalability of Filecoin, Ethereum and more. - [How storage works](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-storage-works.md): This section covers the very basics of storing data works on the Filecoin network. - [Filecoin plus](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-storage-works/filecoin-plus.md) - [Storage onramps](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-storage-works/storage-onramps.md): Storage on-ramps and helpers are APIs and services that abstract Filecoin dealmaking into simple, streamlined API calls. - [Filecoin and IPFS](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-storage-works/filecoin-and-ipfs.md): Explore the features that make Filecoin a compelling system for storing files. This is an overview of features offered by Filecoin that make it a compelling system for storing files. - [How retrieval works](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-retrieval-works.md): This section covers the very basics of how retrieving data works on the Filecoin network. - [Basic retrieval](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-retrieval-works/basic-retrieval.md): There are multiple ways to fetch data from a storage provider. This page covers some of the most popular methods. - [Serving retrievals](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-retrieval-works/serving-retrievals.md): In this article, we will discuss the functions of storage providers in the Filecoin network, the role of the indexer, and the retrieval process for publicly available data. - [Saturn](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/how-retrieval-works/saturn.md): Filecoin Saturn is an open-source, community-run Content Delivery Network (CDN) built on Filecoin. - [Project and community](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community.md): This section contains information about the Filecoin project as a whole, and how you can interact with the community. - [Forums and FIPs](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/forums-and-fips.md): Connect with the Filecoin community in discussion forums or on IRC. The Filecoin community is active and here to answer your questions in your channel of choice. - [Filecoin compared to](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/filecoin-compared-to.md): While Filecoin shares some similarities to other file storage solutions, the protocol has significant differences that one should consider. - [Filecoin FAQs](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/filecoin-faqs.md): Answers to your frequently asked questions on everything from Filecoin’s crypto-economics and storage expenses to hardware and networking. - [Related projects](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/related-projects.md): Filecoin is a highly modular project that is itself made out of many different protocols and tools. Many of these exist as their own projects, supported by Protocol Labs. Learn more about them below. - [Social media](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/social-media.md): Filecoin is everywhere on the internet — and that includes social media. Find your favorite flavor here. - [The Filecoin project](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/the-filecoin-project.md): Curious about how it all got started, or where we’re headed? Learn about the history, current state, and future trajectory of the Filecoin project here. - [Ways to contribute](https://docs.filecoin.io/basics/project-and-community/ways-to-contribute.md): So you want to contribute to Filecoin and the ecosystem? Here is a quick listing of things to which you can contribute and an overview on how you can get started. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.filecoin.io/basics.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.