What is Smart Contract?
A smart contract is a program deployed to a blockchain. When called, it executes deterministically across all nodes, updating on-chain state according to its code. Smart contracts power DeFi, NFTs, on-chain governance and many other systems.
Why Smart Contract matters
Understanding Smart Contract is part of building a solid mental model of how Bitcoin, blockchain and Web3 systems actually work. Concepts in the Ethereum category sit at the foundation of the broader stack — get them right and the rest is far easier.
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Reading the definition is a start. ZeroToBlock teaches concepts like Smart Contract through hands-on, browser-based simulations. Build the mental model by actually using it:
- Bitcoin 101 — interactive fundamentals course
- Bitcoin Proof of Work — mining, hashing and consensus
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Related terms
- Ethereum — A programmable blockchain that supports smart contracts.
- Solidity — The most popular programming language for Ethereum smart contracts.
- EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) — The execution environment for Ethereum smart contracts.
- DeFi (Decentralized Finance) — Financial services built from smart contracts.
More ethereum terms
- Gas — The unit measuring computational cost on Ethereum.
- NFT (Non-Fungible Token) — A unique, non-interchangeable token on a blockchain.
- Web3 — An umbrella term for blockchain-based, user-owned internet applications.
- DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) — An on-chain organization governed by token holders.
- dApp (Decentralized Application) — An app whose backend lives on a blockchain.
- DEX (Decentralized Exchange) — A smart-contract-based trading protocol.
- AMM (Automated Market Maker) — A pricing formula that replaces order books.
- Liquidity Pool — A smart contract holding pooled assets for trading.
Keep exploring
Continue with the full blockchain glossary — 136 terms in total — or read the developer blog and FAQ for deeper context.