# What is Internet Computer(ICP)?

By [crypto-kingpin.eth](https://paragraph.com/@crypto-kingpin-eth) · 2023-03-19

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internet computer is probably the most complex crypto project out there, that most people don’t know what exactly this project is all about

in this thread I will explain internet computer in the most simple way

### What Is Internet Computer?

in the most simple terms, you can think of internet computer as a **decentralized hosting** and **compute** provider, similar to **AWS** or **Google Cloud.**

The Internet Computer is a network of computers that is as **decentralized** and **scalable** as the internet itself, powered by **smart contracts** and chain key cryptography

### What Can You Do With Internet Computer?

at the end internet computer is a blockchain, that you can use to **host** your website or **deploy** your smart contracts, like any other blockchain, but with the regular internet speed

if you deploy your website to internet computer it should(in theory)work just as fast as the **regular internet**

### How It Works?

The internet computer has 3 main components: **subnets**, **nodes**, **canisters**

**Nodes**: A node is a single machine running somewhere in the world. Nodes combine their computing power and run the Internet Computer Protocol

**Subnets**: A subnet is a group of **nodes**. each subnet constitutes its own blockchain that makes progress **independently** of the other subnets

**Canisters**: A canister is where an application runs on a subnet (or group of nodes). This means the canister is the code, state and memory for Internet Computer applications or **simply** a canister is the **smart contract** for internet computer

### How You Can Build on Internet Computer?

currently there are more than 81 Dapps built with IC, also it uses a relatively easy programming language called **Motoko,** which is like solidity for internet computer

also the documentations on their website was pretty clear and easy to follow

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*Originally published on [crypto-kingpin.eth](https://paragraph.com/@crypto-kingpin-eth/what-is-internet-computer-icp-2)*