ICON’s blockchain glossary helps explain complicated blockchain terminology in simple words.
Transaction/ABI endpoints for ICON network. Used to get information or relay information to Delegates. Typically representing an end-user that has services running on or in support of the ICON network
Transaction/ABI endpoints for ICON network. Used to get information or relay information to Public Representatives. Typically representing an end-user that has services running on or in support of the ICON network
The public-facing, callable endpoints of a smart contract
A software code audit is a comprehensive analysis of source code in a programming project with the intent of discovering bugs, security breaches or violations of programming conventions
Berlin Testnet is a test network. Facilitating the first round of testing before Lisbon Testnet and ICON main network
An addition to the ICON distributed ledger that may be validated. Consists of transactions
An addition to the ICON distributed ledger that may be validated. Consists of transactions
The amount of blocks that ICON network produces in a period of time
A series of validated transactions that guarantee computational events to occur logically and securely
Starting location of a transaction on the blockchain
Ending location of a transaction on the blockchain
Decentralized, trustless interoperability solution.
BTP blocks are validated by ICON’s validator set and are verifiable through ICON blocks
Links service handler, light node, and relay. Passes message from service handler to light node.
Passes messages from source to destination blockchain
Maintains destination blockchain state on source blockchain. Passes state headers to relay
Endpoint that the user queries to bridge assets
Bug bounties are offered by many websites, organizations and software developers by which individuals can receive recognition and compensation for reporting bugs, especially those pertaining to security exploits and vulnerabilities
An action that takes place within a transaction
Transaction/ABI endpoints for ICON network. Used to get information or relay information to Public Representatives. Typically representing an end-user that has services running on or in support of the ICON network
Code coverage is a software testing metric that that can help in assessing the test performance and quality aspects of any software.
The process of restructuring existing computer code
ICON community member
Projects that would benefit the ICON ecosystem to be supported by public representatives and discussed by the community at-large. Funding for these projects comes from a percentage of network rewards
Decentralized grant program operated by ICON delegates
A network that supports cross-chain messaging
Calls from one blockchain to another
Service for trading currency from one type to another, which may include cryptocurrency
In the context of computer programs, decentralized refers to the notion that it includes a component that is run on many different computers and by many independent operators for the purpose of servicing a user
Application on a distributed network run by multiple independent operators. Typically refers to applications that operate on or make use of a blockchain
Block validator for the ICON network. Transaction processors for operations that change the state of the ICON network. Typically representing an end-user group that has made important contributions to the ICON network. Typically encouraged to incentivize the at-large ICON Community for participation and to help increase the value of the ICON network
The period of time that a delegate is voted to their position
A decentralized blockchain validation protocol whereby a group of delegates validate blocks on behalf of all nodes in the network. Validators stake a significant amount of currency to prove that their validations are legitimate at the risk of losing the staked currency
A decentralized blockchain validation protocol whereby a group of delegates validate blocks on behalf of all nodes in the network. Validators stake a significant amount of currency to prove that their validations are legitimate at the risk of losing the staked currency
Contribution of voting power towards a delegate / validator candidate
Ending location of a transaction on the blockchain
A logic system that tracks current status and facilitates changes in status through decisions and transition processes
Goloop is a smart contract enabled enterprise-grade blockchain software written in Go with many unique features providing a secure, immutable and scalable environment to develop decentralized applications
A system for making and enforcing decisions
Network parameters including voter reward rate, public representative reward rate, contribution proposal system reward rate, and monthly inflation
A monetary gift, where the recipient is typically expected to pursue some pre-defined goal with the money received
Polkadot parachain and Kusama canary-chain for ICON network. EVM-compatible. Can be used to write smart contracts in Solidity
Centralized blockchain interoperability solution
Standards for the ICON platform, including core protocol specifications, client APIs, and contract standards. Including ideas for new standards
Merkle-tree-based, decentralized, public blockchain for running cryptographically secure computations
Smart contract framework for ICON
ICON community member
The cryptocurrency that is used to govern the ICON blockchain, and pay for transaction fees for decentralized applications on ICON Network
ICON Improvement Proposals (IIPs) describe standards for the ICON platform, including core protocol specifications, client APIs, and contract standards
A charge that must be paid in association with executing a computational instruction using computational power on the blockchain
Able to utilize multiple, independently run and validated blockchains to create a single application
Smart contracts on ICON are written in Java and executed within Goloop’s Java Virtual Machine (JVM) environment
A list of transactions maintained by a bookkeeper. In the context of cryptocurrency, often synonymously used with “blockchain”
Maintains destination blockchain state on source blockchain. Passes state headers to relay
Maintains destination blockchain state on source blockchain. Passes state headers to relay
Lisbon Testnet is a test network. Facilitating the last round of testing before ICON main network
Service that connects to another application. A type of user that acts on behalf of an end-user
A mainnet is a fully operational and working blockchain
Computational structure for ensuring that computational events happen in a specific, logical order
Queue of concatenated merkle tree roots with cached hashes that can verify the inclusion of a given hash
Links service handler, light node, and relay. Passes message from service handler to light node
Maintains destination blockchain state on source blockchain. Passes state headers to relay
A blockchain’s inherent digital currency
Collection of linked computers running services that interact with each other
Changes to the ICON network to be decided upon by public representatives and discussed by the community at-large
A frontend application for transferring tokens across blockchains via ICON Bridge.
Computational service running in support of the ICON network that can either be an API Endpoint or a Delegate / Validator
Data or logic that is not on the blockchain
Data or logic that is codified into the blockchain global state machine
Open source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance
An oracle is a bridge between the blockchain and the real world. They act as on-chain APIs that can be queried for information and used in smart contracts
Any information that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information that is linked or linkable to that individual
Block validator for the ICON network. Transaction processors for operations that change the state of the ICON network. Typically representing an end-user group that has made important contributions to the ICON network. Typically encouraged to incentivize the at-large ICON Community for participation and to help increase the value of the ICON network
User that gets tokens during a transaction
Passes messages from source to destination blockchain
Party that transfers messages between blockchains
A repository is a location, either real or virtual, where data is stored. Development repositories are commonly stored on GitHub
The period of time that a delegate is voted to their position
Request for Proposal (RFP) lists provide community members with ideas for their grant requests. Take a look at the Request for Proposal list for each funding source for inspiration and insight.
User that gives tokens during a transaction
Endpoint that the user queries to bridge assets
Ending location of a transaction on the blockchain
Blockchain-integrated code for maintaining and interacting with data in a trusted, distributed database
Smart contract framework for ICON
Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level language for implementing smart contracts. Smart contracts are programs which govern the behaviour of accounts within the Ethereum state
Starting location of a transaction on the blockchain
Collaborative group of independent parties that openly contribute and share expertise on a specific technology area
Locking up tokens in contribution to a blockchain entity. Typically staking yields rewards
Currency yield earned by locking up tokens in contribution to a blockchain entity
Standard developer kit. Allows for programmatic interaction with the ICON blockchain
A unit of measurement associated with computational processing on the ICON network. Currently it's economic value is associated to 1 * 10^-8 ICX
Ending location of a transaction on the blockchain
Blockchain’s non-native, third party currencies
Service for trading currency from one type to another, which may include cryptocurrency
A tracker reports on block-by-block transaction activity on a blockchain
Cryptographically signed instructions from accounts
A promise that can be made between multiple parties without the requirement for any one party to simply believe that the other parties are telling the truth
Parties that interact with the blockchain. Senders and receivers in a transaction. Token holders. Includes end-users and machine-users
Block validator for the ICON network. Transaction processors for operations that change the state of the ICON network. Typically representing an end-user group that has made important contributions to the ICON network. Typically encouraged to incentivize the at-large ICON Community for participation and to help increase the value of the ICON network
ICON's decentralized and trustless interoperability protocol that facilitates generic messaging betweeen industry-leading blockchains.
In a general context, tallying the preferences of a userbase in order to make a decision. In the Delegated-proof-of-stake context, using staked tokens to provide block validation for newly created blocks
In the context of cryptocurrency, a storage service for cryptocurrency
Web3 is an idea for a new iteration of the World Wide Web which incorporates concepts such as decentralization, blockchain technologies, and token-based economics
Peer-reviewed, technical explanation of protocols or systems. May also colloquially refer to original paper introducing ICON network
The xCall service is a feature of ICON’s Blockchain Transmission Protocol, enabling generic cross-chain messaging between heterogeneous blockchains.
Non-peer-reviewed, technical explanation of protocols or explanations