Orbit DB is a decentralized NoSQL database that utilizes conflict-free replicated data types to ensure eventual consistency across a network of nodes. It functions as a peer-to-peer data store that uses IPFS for content-addressing and synchronization, allowing for the maintenance of application state without a central server or authority.
The system is built upon a cryptographically verifiable, immutable operation log, which serves as the foundation for custom decentralized data models. This architecture enables the implementation of various data storage patterns, including JSON document stores, key-value pairs, and append-only logs.
The project covers decentralized data storage and distributed database management through the use of content-addressable storage, distributed hash table routing, and peer-to-peer gossip synchronization. It employs Merkle-tree state verification to validate the integrity of the distributed datasets.