ERC-1155

ERC-1155 exists because not every digital asset fits the "one unique token per contract entry" pattern cleanly. Games and large-scale collections often need a cheaper way to manage both unique items and semi-fungible items together.

Instead of forcing developers to deploy many separate token contracts, ERC-1155 allows one contract to manage multiple asset types. Some IDs can represent a single rare item, while others can represent many interchangeable copies.

ERC-1155 is not "better than" ERC-721 across the board. It is better for particular inventory patterns. If the main value comes from singular identity and provenance, ERC-721 often remains the cleaner teaching and product choice.

A useful rule is to start with the user experience you need, then map that to the standard. The token format should serve the asset model, not the other way around.