𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗡𝗙𝗧𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗣𝗘𝗚𝘀
I used to think NFTs were just digital images.
After a week of building them on Solana, my view changed. I spent time creating NFTs, attaching metadata, and organizing collections on devnet.
Here is what I learned.
NFTs are not a separate asset type on Solana.
They use the same SPL token model as regular tokens. They still use:
- A mint account
- A token account
- An owner wallet
The only difference is the configuration. To make a token an NFT, you set these rules:
- Supply of 1
- 0 decimals
- Disable the mint authority after minting
Disabling the mint authority locks the supply forever. What looks like a new asset category is just the same architecture with different rules.
Metadata makes the NFT meaningful. I used the Metadata Extension to add a name, a symbol, and a URI.
The NFT does not store the image. Storing large files on-chain is too expensive. Instead, the NFT stores a URI. This URI points to a JSON file off-chain. When a wallet shows your NFT, it reads the on-chain metadata, follows the URI, and finds the image.
I also learned about collections. Using Group and Member extensions, I linked multiple NFTs to one collection NFT.
Think of this like a parent-child relationship in a database.
- The collection is the parent.
- The NFTs are the members.
This relationship lives on-chain. It is not just an app feature. Anyone can verify if an NFT belongs to a collection by inspecting the account data.
I also tested updating NFTs. I changed names and updated URIs. The changes happened on-chain instantly. However, the image in a wallet might not change immediately. This happens because wallets cache metadata. The on-chain data is correct, but the visual layer takes time to refresh.
The big lesson: Do not assume how something works. Inspect the account and verify the data.
NFTs are built from the same foundations as every other asset on Solana: mints, accounts, and program rules. The image is for the user. The structure is what defines the asset.
Source: https://dev.to/devduchess/understanding-solana-nfts-as-a-web2-developer-more-than-just-jpegs-5ekm