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New to SolidOS? This page explains what it is, why it matters, and lets you try it — no coding required.

The Problem​

Think about all the apps you use: email, social media, notes, calendars, photos.

Each app stores your data on their servers. You can't easily:

  • Move your contacts from one app to another
  • See all your data in one place
  • Delete your data when you leave a service
  • Control who sees what

Your data is scattered across dozens of companies. They own it, not you.

The Solution​

What if you controlled where your data lived?

That's the idea behind Solid — a set of standards that let you store your data in a Pod (Personal Online Datastore) that you control.

SolidOS is a web app that lets you view, edit, and manage everything in your Pod. Think of it as a file browser, but for your personal data — contacts, notes, chat, and more.

Try It Now​

Let's see it in action. No account needed.

Step 1: Open the Demo​

Click this link to open the SolidOS data browser:

Open Demo →

You're now looking at the SolidOS data browser.

Step 2: Look Around​

Notice a few things:

  • The address bar shows a web address (URI) — this is where the data lives
  • The main area shows information about this profile
  • Different views — try clicking the icons to see the same data displayed differently

This is the core idea: data lives at web addresses, and SolidOS gives you different ways to view and edit it.

Step 3: Explore More Data​

The profile links to other data. Try clicking on linked items to navigate. Each click loads data from a new address.

Everything you see is real data stored on the web — not in a database controlled by one company.

Key Concepts (Plain English)​

Before diving deeper, here's what a few terms mean:

Pod​

A place on the web where your data lives. Like Dropbox, but you choose who hosts it — or host it yourself.

Linked Data​

A way of connecting information. Instead of data trapped in one app, linked data can reference data from anywhere on the web.

Pane​

A "view" for displaying a certain type of data. A contacts pane shows contacts. A chat pane shows messages. SolidOS automatically picks the right pane based on what you're looking at.

RDF​

The format used to store linked data. You don't need to understand RDF to use SolidOS — but if you want to build apps, you'll learn it along the way.

What Can You Do With SolidOS?​

With your own Pod, you can:

FeatureWhat it does
ContactsStore your address book in your Pod
ChatSend messages to other Solid users
NotesWrite and organize personal notes
FilesUpload and manage files
SharingControl exactly who sees what

All your data stays in your Pod. Apps ask permission to access it — you decide.

Next Steps​

Ready to go further? Here's where to go next:

I want to get my own Pod​

→ Get a Pod — sign up for a free Pod

I want to understand how SolidOS works​

→ What is SolidOS? — architecture overview

I want to build apps with SolidOS​

→ Quick Start — set up a development environment

I want to create a custom view (pane)​

→ Your First Pane — build something in 10 minutes

Questions?​

The best documentation comes from real questions. If you're stuck, others probably are too.