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📜 Metadata Standards: OpenSea vs Custom

Understand different metadata schemas and compatibility

Learn how NFT data is structured and stored

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📐 Metadata Standards: ERC-721 vs ERC-1155 vs Custom

NFT metadata standards define the JSON structure marketplaces expect. Choose the right one for your use case: simple art (ERC-721), gaming items (ERC-1155), or experimental projects (custom).

🔄 Interactive: Compare Standards

Select a standard to see its schema, pros/cons, and real example. Toggle comparison mode to see all three side-by-side.

🎨

ERC-721

Original NFT Standard

JSON SCHEMA
name: string
description: string
image: string (URI)
attributes: array of objects
external_url: string (optional)
EXAMPLE USAGE
{
  "name": "Bored Ape #1234",
  "description": "A unique ape from the BAYC collection",
  "image": "ipfs://QmYwAPJz...1234",
  "attributes": [
    {
      "trait_type": "Background",
      "value": "Blue"
    },
    {
      "trait_type": "Fur",
      "value": "Golden Brown"
    },
    {
      "trait_type": "Hat",
      "value": "Army Hat"
    }
  ]
}
✅ PROS
  • •Universal support
  • •Simple structure
  • •Battle-tested
  • •OpenSea compatible
❌ CONS
  • •No batch operations
  • •One token per contract
  • •Fixed after mint
  • •Gas intensive for collections

🎯 When to Use Each Standard

🎨
ERC-721: Art collections, PFPs, unique 1/1s. Need marketplace support? Use this.
📦
ERC-1155: Gaming items, editions, fungible + non-fungible mix. Batch operations matter.
⚙️
Custom: Experimental art, app-specific NFTs, don't care about resale markets.

💡 Key Insight

99% of NFT projects should use ERC-721. It has universal marketplace support, is well-documented, and buyers understand it. Only deviate if you have specific technical needs (batch transfers for gaming) or are building experimental infrastructure. Custom schemas give you freedom but isolate you from the ecosystem.

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