> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tephra.gitbook.io/tephra-sdk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tephra.gitbook.io/tephra-sdk/getting-started/asset-creation.md).

# Asset Creation

An asset is a representation of whatever is being preserved. Each asset can be owned by just one individual at a time.

## Registering an Address

Creating an asset is as simple as calling `create`. This command registers a new universally unique address in Tephra. The address will be timestamped and stored in the Tephra changeset. All changes are preserved in chunks on [IPFS](https://ipfs.io) / [Ethereum](https://ethereum.org/en/).

```typescript
const address = await tephra.create()

console.log(`Now there's an asset at "${address}"`)
// e.g., Now there's an asset at "3a134374-b266-411f-882b-022422d05989"
```

Addresses can be used to retrieve information about an asset like its contents *(see below)*, owner, date of creation, chain of custody, etc. These details are public and can be viewed by anyone using Tephra Validate.

## Storing Contents

Assets can also contain details that are preserved as part of the changeset. Media should be uploaded to [IPFS](https://ipfs.io) and provided as an address so that values are is immutable.

```typescript
// Create an asset
const assetAddress = await tephra.create({
  name: 'My First Asset',
  description: 'This asset will exist forever.',
  image: {
    type: 'ipfs',
    address: someIpfsAddress,
  },
  // Attributes can be used to store any structured
  // information about the asset.
  attributes: [
    {
      label: 'Created By',
      value: 'Me.',
    },
  ],
})
```

### Allowed Fields

All of these fields are optional.

| Field         | Type                                 |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `name`        | `string`                             |
| `description` | `string`                             |
| `image`       | `{ type: 'ipfs', address: string }`  |
| `attributes`  | `{ label: string, value: string }[]` |