---
title: "Overview"
---

## Welcome to the Pubky Knowledge Base

This is a knowledge base for the Pubky platform, which includes [Pubky Core](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/introduction.md), [PKARR](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/pkarr/introduction.md) and [Pubky App](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/introduction.md). These documents are a work in progress, much like Pubky's protocols and applications!

## What is Pubky?

Pubky attempts to unlock the web by realizing our vision for a key-based, self-regulating web that puts users in control.

So far, Pubky does this by combining practical decentralized routing & identity ([PKARR](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/pkarr/introduction.md)), with simple interoperable hosting ([Homeservers](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/homeserver.md)) that allow for [censorship](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/censorship.md) resistance and a [credible exit](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/credible-exit.md), as well as a publishing application, Pubky App, that facilitates the creation of a [Semantic Social Graph](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/semantic-social-graph.md), which can be used for filtering, discovery, matching and coordination.

Learn more about the overall vision here: [The Vision of Pubky](https://pubky.org/the-vision-of-pubky.md)

## Quick Start

- **[TLDR](https://pubky.org/tldr.md)**: 30-second overview of the entire ecosystem
- **[Getting Started](https://pubky.org/getting-started.md)**: Complete guide for users and developers
- **[Glossary](https://pubky.org/glossary.md)**: Quick reference for key terms
- **[Comparisons](https://pubky.org/comparisons.md)**: How Pubky compares to other protocols
- **[Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)](https://pubky.org/faq.md)**: 63+ questions answered

## For Users

### Try Pubky

1. **[Pubky Ring](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-ring.md)** - Download the mobile key manager app (iOS/Android)
2. **[Pubky.app](https://pubky.app)** - Try the social media application
3. **[Pubky Explorer](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-explorer.md)** - Browse your data at [explorer.pubky.app](https://explorer.pubky.app)

### Identity Management

🔐 **[Pubky Ring](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-ring.md)** is the key manager app for the Pubky ecosystem. Native mobile app (iOS/Android) for managing your pubkys, authorizing apps, and controlling sessions.

- [Pubky Ring Overview](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-ring.md) - Your keychain for decentralized identity
- [Official Repository](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-ring) - React Native mobile app

## For Developers: Pubky Core

🏗️ **[Pubky Core](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/introduction.md)** is the open protocol and infrastructure for building censorship-resistant web applications.

### Core Documentation

- [Pubky Core Overview](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/introduction.md) - Protocol, Homeserver, and SDK
- [SDK Documentation](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/sdk.md) - Client libraries (Rust, JavaScript, iOS, Android)
- [API Reference](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/api.md) - RESTful HTTP API specification
- [Architecture Overview](https://pubky.org/architecture.md) - System design and data flow
- [Homeserver Documentation](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/homeserver.md) - Deploy and configure Homeservers
- [Security Model](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/security-model.md) - Threat landscape, trust assumptions, and credible exit

### Infrastructure

- [Homegate](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/homegate.md) - Signup verification service for Homeservers (SMS + Lightning)
- [PKDNS](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pkdns.md) - DNS server for resolving public-key domains
- [Pubky Nexus](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/indexing-and-aggregation/pubky-nexus.md) - Production indexing service
- [HTTP Relay](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/http-relay.md) - Auth token forwarding for authentication flows
- [Pubky Backup](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-backup.md) - Desktop backup for data portability and credible exit
- [Pubky Moderation](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-moderation.md) - Content moderation service

### Resources

- [Official Repository](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-core) - MIT licensed
- [Official Docs](https://pubky.github.io/pubky-core/) - Complete documentation
- [Rust API Docs](https://docs.rs/pubky) - Rust crate documentation
- [NPM Package](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@synonymdev/pubky) - JavaScript/TypeScript bindings

## Developer Tools

🛠️ **Pubky Ecosystem Tools** - Utilities for development, debugging, and exploration:

- **[Pubky Docker](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-docker.md)** - One-click Docker stack for running the complete Pubky Social environment locally
- **[Pubky Explorer](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-explorer.md)** - Web-based file browser for Homeserver data ([explorer.pubky.app](https://explorer.pubky.app))
- **[Pubky CLI](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-cli.md)** - Command-line tool for Homeserver management and testing
- **PKDNS Digger** - Web-based DNS record lookup tool for PKARR domains ([github.com/pubky/pkdns-digger](https://github.com/pubky/pkdns-digger))
- **[Jeb AI Bot](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/jeb-pubky-ai-bot.md)** - AI-powered bot for summaries and fact-checking on Pubky social network

## Pubky App: Social Application

**[Pubky App](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/introduction.md)** is a decentralized social media application built on Pubky Core.

### Current Status

- **Live Application**: [https://pubky.app](https://pubky.app) - Production PWA currently operational
- **Web Client**: [pubky.app](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/reference-app/pubky-app.md) ([github.com/pubky/pubky-app](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-app))
- **Data Model Specification**: [App Specs](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/app-specs.md) ([pubky-app-specs](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-app-specs)) - Formal schema definitions for interoperability

### Backend Infrastructure

🚀 **[Pubky Nexus](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/indexing-and-aggregation/pubky-nexus.md)** is the production indexing and aggregation service that powers Pubky App's social features.

- [Pubky Nexus Overview](https://pubky.org/explore/pubky-apps/indexing-and-aggregation/pubky-nexus.md) - Real-time social graph aggregation and high-performance API
- [Official Repository](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-nexus) - Open source Rust implementation
- [Live API](https://nexus.pubky.app/swagger-ui/) - Production REST API with Swagger UI
- [Staging API](https://nexus.staging.pubky.app/swagger-ui/) - Latest development version

## Key Concepts

Understand the fundamental ideas behind Pubky:

- **[Semantic Social Graph](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/semantic-social-graph.md)** - Tagged relationships and user-controlled filtering
- **[Censorship Resistance](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/censorship.md)** - Why centralized platforms fail
- **[Credible Exit](https://pubky.org/explore/concepts/credible-exit.md)** - Freedom to switch providers without losing data
- **[PKARR](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/pkarr/introduction.md)** - Public key addressable resource records
- **[Mainline DHT](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/mainline-dht.md)** - Distributed hash table for discovery

## Work in Progress: Payment Protocol

⚠️ **[Paykit](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/paykit.md)** is a payment protocol (work in progress) built on Pubky for payment discovery and coordination. Not production-ready.

- [Paykit Overview](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/paykit.md) - Current state and architecture (WIP)
- [Repository](https://github.com/pubky/paykit-rs) - WIP
- [Additional Documentation](https://github.com/BitcoinErrorLog/paykit-rs/tree/main/docs) - Informal drafts in a downstream working fork; not authoritative

## Work in Progress: Encrypted Communication

⚠️ **[Pubky Noise](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-noise.md)** is a Noise Protocol implementation (work in progress) for encrypted peer-to-peer communication in the Pubky ecosystem. Not production-ready.

- [Pubky Noise](https://pubky.org/explore/technologies/pubky-noise.md) - Encrypted communication for Pubky (WIP)
- [Repository](https://github.com/pubky/pubky-noise) - WIP

## Community & Support

- **[Getting Started](https://pubky.org/getting-started.md)** - Complete onboarding guide
- **[FAQ](https://pubky.org/faq.md)** - Frequently asked questions
- **[Troubleshooting](https://pubky.org/troubleshooting.md)** - Common issues and solutions
- **[Contributing](https://pubky.org/contributing.md)** - How to contribute to Pubky
- **Telegram**: [t.me/pubkycore](https://t.me/pubkycore)
- **GitHub**: [github.com/pubky](https://github.com/pubky)

---

**Ready to get started? Check out the [Getting Started](https://pubky.org/getting-started.md) guide or dive into [Pubky Core](https://pubky.org/explore/pubkycore/introduction.md)!**