Internet Computer is built for the deployment and use of “canisters,” the network’s implementation of smart contracts. Unlike some smart contract platform competitors that rely on centralized cloud computing providers, Internet Computer is designed to function as a “World Computer that can… run solely from the blockchain, without the need for traditional IT.”

Architecturally, Internet Computer is made up of Subnets, independent blockchains run by Node Machines deployed in data centers worldwide. Each subnet (i) hosts canisters and (ii) executes messages, which are analogous to transactions on other networks. Users access canisters via Boundary Nodes that translate requests from users and applications into canister calls by either the API Node or HTTP Gateway.