Skip to main content
Version: Next

Concepts Overview

The Casper blockchain is a Turing-complete smart-contracting platform using a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm and WebAssembly (Wasm). The Casper Mainnet is permissionless, decentralized, and public. Network administrators can also create private or hybrid Casper networks as described here.

Concepts

This section of the documentation covers the core concepts underpinning the Casper blockchain. Working with Casper requires an understanding of blockchain technology, as well as some Casper-specific features. We recommend starting with the topics below if you are new to Casper.

TopicDescription
Introduction to the Casper BlockchainHigh-level details about the Casper blockchain
Introduction to dAppsDeveloping distributed applications on the Casper blockchain
Addressable EntitiesLearn about addressable entities and how they relate to accounts and smart contracts.
Accounts and Cryptographic KeysThe Casper programming model is account-based. Learn how Casper accounts work and how they are secured
Key TypesHashes/Keys are used throughout the Casper ecosystem for addresses, packaging data, and more
Global StateLearn about the storage layer for the Casper blockchain. All accounts, contracts, and data are stored in global state
Call StacksLearn how Casper manages the calling of a contract
Transactions and the Transaction LifecycleTransactions are a concept fundamental to the Casper blockchain. Learn about transactions, what they are for, how to create and send them
Smart ContractsLearn how to develop smart contracts on Casper
DictionariesLearn about dictionaries, which are a primary construct for storing and retrieving data on the Casper platform
SerializationLearn about serializing data types and the Casper Serialization Standard
DesignThe high-level design of a Casper network
EconomicsLearn about the Casper on-chain economics
GlossaryA compendium of all the terms used in Casper, in alphabetical order

Next Steps

After learning the basic concepts underpinning the Casper protocol, you may wish to look into the following categories.

Developers

The Developers area caters to those interested in building dApps and writing smart contracts, including information about specific features or Casper APIs.

Operators

The Operators section caters to those who want to run and administrate a Casper node or network.

Users

The Users section contains tutorials for those interested in interacting with the Casper blockchain using a block explorer or a Ledger device.

Resources

Navigate to Resources to try various tutorials. If you are just getting started and looking to build your first Casper-based dApp, start with the beginner tutorials. Afterward, continue with more advanced tutorials to explore the multi-signature feature, runtime return values, and other essential features.