Wayfinder
Wayfinder is a client-side routing and verification protocol that provides decentralized, cryptographically verified access to data stored on Arweave via the AR.IO Network. It automatically selects optimal gateways and ensures data integrity for seamless permaweb experiences.
What is Wayfinder?
Wayfinder solves the challenge of reliable data access on the permaweb by:
- Intelligent Routing: Automatically selects the best gateway for each request based on performance, availability, and user preferences
- Data Verification: Cryptographically verifies data integrity to ensure you're getting authentic, unmodified content
- Decentralized Access: Eliminates single points of failure by distributing requests across multiple AR.IO gateways
- Seamless Integration: Works behind the scenes to provide fast, reliable access without requiring users to understand the underlying infrastructure
Who is Wayfinder For?
Builders
People who build dApps on the permaweb
Wayfinder enables developers to build robust decentralized applications with:
- Reliable Data Access: Never worry about gateway downtime or slow responses
- Built-in Verification: Ensure data integrity without implementing complex verification logic
- Developer-Friendly APIs: Simple JavaScript/TypeScript libraries and React components
- Performance Monitoring: Built-in telemetry to track and optimize application performance
- Flexible Configuration: Choose routing strategies and verification methods that fit your use case
Browsers
People who browse the permaweb
Wayfinder provides end users with:
- Fast Loading: Automatically routes to the fastest available gateway for optimal performance
- Reliable Access: Seamlessly switches between gateways if one becomes unavailable
- Data Integrity: Verifies that content hasn't been tampered with or corrupted
- Transparent Operation: Works invisibly in the background without requiring user interaction
- No Tokens Required: Access permaweb content without needing AR tokens or wallet connections
Operators
People who operate AR.IO gateways
Wayfinder helps gateway operators by:
- Performance Insights: Provides telemetry data to help optimize gateway performance
- Network Participation: Enables gateways to participate in the decentralized routing ecosystem
- Load Distribution: Intelligently distributes traffic based on gateway capabilities and performance
- Quality Monitoring: Tracks gateway reliability and performance metrics
- Network Health: Contributes to overall AR.IO network resilience and performance
Available Packages
- @ar.io/wayfinder-core: Core JavaScript/TypeScript library for any web application
- @ar.io/wayfinder-react: React components, hooks, and providers for React applications
Getting Started
Ready to integrate Wayfinder into your project? Check out our Getting Started Guide for installation instructions and basic configuration examples.