diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 205dbcd..4aeeffe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ developers and content producers, simply publish your content through IPFS,
 and then bring it to your users with Intergalactic. All without downloads,
 software installation, or running IPFS yourself.
 
+## How It Works
+
+Intergalactic automatically installs a JavaScript [service
+worker](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Service_Worker_API)
+in your browser that intercepts requests to IPFS multihash URLs, and fetches
+their content from the IPFS network before rendering in the browser. In other
+words, Intergalactic serves as a translation layer between HTTP and IPFS
+without needing to go through a central server.
+
 ## Installation
 
 ```shell