COLLECTING, EXPLAINED · 3 MIN READ
What makes an NFT yours?
A collection starts with a piece you want to keep. Understanding what sits behind that piece helps you make sense of the market around it.
One NFT, three layers
- 01 · IDENTITY
Contract + token ID
Together they identify the token on a particular chain.
- 02 · DESCRIPTION
Metadata + traits
A name, image reference and attributes describe the piece.
- 03 · APPEARANCE
Artwork + media
The image may be hosted separately from the token record.
A token has an identity
An NFT is a token recorded by a smart contract on a blockchain. For ERC-721 collections, the contract address and token ID identify a particular token. Two pieces can share a name or image while belonging to different contracts.
The artwork and descriptive metadata may live outside the blockchain. A token record does not by itself guarantee that its media will remain available or that copyright transfers with it.
Read a collection on ZAPP
Open a collection to see its contract, source market information and indexed items. Use the contract address when checking that you have found the collection you intended. A familiar name or a badge should never replace that check.
All items are shown by default, with listed items first. Listings only narrows the view to items with a current indexed listing. A collection’s floor is the lowest available listing; it is not a guaranteed resale price for every item.
Look beyond the picture
Read the creator’s own description and terms. Check how media is hosted, whether the collection is revealed, and what any promised access actually provides. Treat future plans separately from features that already exist.