The ARCSS protocol is a URI scheme designed to translate requests for Arweave content into an https:// request. Essentially, ARCSS allows for transforming traditional Arweave URLs like https://arweave.net/long-txid into more concise and user-friendly forms such as ar://txid or ar://arns-name. When combined with the AR.IO WayFinder browser extension, the request can be directed to any number of functional AR.IO Gateways to serve the content.
An early technical breakdown of ARCSS, created by Arweave community member DMac, can be found here.
ARCSS is currently facilitated via the WayFinder browser extension or internal application integration. The intention is to lead popular web browsers like Chrome and Brave towards a direct integration of ARCSS, similar to recent integrations of the ipfs:// protocol. Such integration would remove the need for a client-side extension and boost developers’ confidence in embedding ARCSS in their websites.
Certain websites or apps may want to resolve Arweave Transaction ID’s (TxId) internally. In these scenarios, they can process ARCSS internally without depending on browser support or WayFinder. A prime example is opensea.io. Opensea, an NFT marketplace, frequently imports NFT metadata from external sources. If metadata employs ARCSS, Opensea internally resolves these, presenting content without redirecting users through an https:// link.
There are two main approaches to resolving ARCSS:
Each strategy has its benefits and challenges, necessitating careful evaluation based on specific use cases.
Using ARCSS offers several advantages over hardcoded links to a specific gateway:
With ARCSS, not only can websites be hosted on the Arweave network, but their accessibility is also enhanced. By using ARCSS, web developers can ensure that if a specific AR.IO Gateway is down, the content can still be accessed through another gateway, offering a more reliable and resilient user experience.
Digitally archiving public domain works, especially in light of events like “banned books week”, becomes more efficient with ARCSS. Historical institutions or enthusiasts can easily share specific ARCSS links to documents or media. Unlike hardcoded links which might break if a specific gateway goes offline, ARCSS ensures that the content remains consistently accessible.
For platforms hosting user-generated content, ARCSS provides not just decentralized hosting but also a guarantee of content delivery. Even if a content piece becomes viral and one gateway gets congested, ARCSS ensures that users can still access the content through another gateway, providing a seamless experience.
DApps, while benefiting from Arweave’s permanent hosting, can further ensure their front-end remains consistently accessible to users by using ARCSS. If a DApp’s front-end is accessed frequently, causing strain on one gateway, ARCSS can help ensure the load is distributed, and the DApp remains online and functional.
To access content tied to an Arweave Transaction ID (TxId), simply append the TxId to ar://:
ar://qI19W6spw-kzOGl4qUMNp2gwFH2EBfDXOFsjkcNyK9A
Inputting this into a WayFinder-equipped browser will route your request through the right AR.IO Gateway, translating it as per your Routing Method settings.
Fetching content via an Arweave Name Service (ArNS) name is straightforward. Attach the ArNS name to ar://:
ar://good-morning
The ARCSS protocol, along with the WayFinder extension, discerns between TxIds and ArNS names. Once the suitable https:// request is formulated, the chosen gateway translates the ArNS name based on the ArNS smartweave contract.