For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.

Retrieval

Retrieval is how users fetch content from Filecoin storage providers, IPFS, and Filecoin-backed storage services.

Retrieval means fetching stored data back from Filecoin. The right retrieval path depends on how the data was stored, which identifiers you have, and whether you want a managed service API or direct storage-provider retrieval.

Use this page as a starting point. For implementation details, see the How retrieval works section.

Common retrieval paths

Retrieve from Filecoin Onchain Cloud

Use the Filecoin Onchain Cloud retrieval docs when your data was stored through Filecoin Onchain Cloud or the Synapse SDK. Those docs cover the current FOC retrieval paths, SDK flows, and service-specific options.

Retrieve from Fil One

Fil One is an S3-compatible object storage service backed by Filecoin. If your data is stored in Fil One, retrieve it with the same S3-compatible tools, SDKs, or application paths you use for object storage.

Retrieve directly from Filecoin storage providers

Use direct storage-provider retrieval when your data was stored through direct deal making or another provider-specific workflow and you need to fetch it from the providers that hold it.

Direct retrieval usually starts with either a PieceCID or an IPFS CID:

  • For a PieceCID, use Filecoin deal, sector, storage-service, or provider metadata to identify a provider that stores the piece, then retrieve from the provider's HTTP /piece/{pieceCid} endpoint when available.

  • For an IPFS CID, use content routing such as the InterPlanetary Network Indexer to find providers that advertised the CID. Some providers expose an /ipfs/{cid} endpoint for IPFS-style retrieval.

Use Lassie for CID-based retrieval from Filecoin and IPFS. Lassie can discover providers for advertised CID content and fetch it with lassie fetch <CID>, or run as an HTTP daemon for /ipfs/{cid} requests. For whole-piece retrieval by PieceCID, use a provider or service path that supports /piece.

Where to go next

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