Web3 terms, explained for the work.
120 practical terms with why they matter, common misconceptions, and the roles that use them.
120 of 120 terms
Wallet
Software or hardware used to control blockchain accounts and sign actions.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetySeed Phrase
A recovery phrase that can control all assets in a wallet.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyPrivate Key
A secret value that authorizes control over a blockchain account.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyPublic Address
The visible account identifier used for sending assets or checking activity.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyTransaction
A signed action submitted to a blockchain.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyGas
The fee paid to include or execute a blockchain transaction.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyBlock Explorer
A website for inspecting public blockchain data such as transactions and addresses.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyMainnet
The live production blockchain network where real assets and risk exist.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyTestnet
A testing network that mimics blockchain behavior without mainnet asset risk.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyFaucet
A service that gives testnet tokens for development and demos.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyPhishing
A deception attempt that tricks users into revealing secrets or signing harmful actions.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyToken Approval
Permission granted for a contract to move a user's tokens within defined limits.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyRevoke
Removing a previously granted token approval.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyCustodial Wallet
A wallet controlled by a third party such as an exchange or platform.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetySelf-Custody
Holding direct control over wallet keys without a custodian.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyHardware Wallet
A physical device used to keep signing keys isolated.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyBridge
A tool for moving assets or messages between chains.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyLayer 1
A base blockchain network such as Ethereum or Solana.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyLayer 2
A scaling network that settles to or depends on a base chain.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyFinality
The point at which a transaction is considered irreversible enough for practical use.
Open term Basics & Wallet SafetyReorg
A chain reorganization where recent blocks are replaced by another valid history.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentSmart Contract
Code deployed to a blockchain that executes according to defined rules.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentContract Address
The public address where a smart contract is deployed.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentABI
A description of how software can call a smart contract.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentDeployment
Publishing code or configuration to a live or test environment.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentAudit
A structured security review of code, systems, or assumptions.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentBug Bounty
A program that rewards responsible vulnerability reports.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentExploit
An attack that uses a weakness to cause loss or unintended behavior.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentOracle
A service that brings external data into smart contracts.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentMultisig
A wallet requiring multiple approvals before an action executes.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentSigner
An account authorized to approve a transaction or multisig action.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentAccess Control
Rules that decide who can perform privileged actions.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentOwner
An account or role with privileged control over a contract or system.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentUpgradeability
A design that allows contract logic to be changed after deployment.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentProxy Contract
A contract pattern that forwards calls to upgradeable logic.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentSDK
A software development kit that helps developers integrate a product.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentAPI
A defined interface for software systems to communicate.
Open term Smart Contracts & DevelopmentRate Limit
A restriction on how often a system can be called.
Open term DeFi & MarketsTVL
Total value locked in a protocol or set of smart contracts.
Open term DeFi & MarketsLiquidity
Available assets that allow trades, borrowing, or withdrawals.
Open term DeFi & MarketsLiquidity Pool
A smart contract pool of assets used for trading or lending.
Open term DeFi & MarketsYield
Return earned from lending, staking, liquidity provision, or incentives.
Open term DeFi & MarketsAPR
Annual percentage rate without compounding.
Open term DeFi & MarketsAPY
Annual percentage yield with compounding included.
Open term DeFi & MarketsSlippage
The difference between expected and executed trade price.
Open term DeFi & MarketsDEX
A decentralized exchange for trading assets through smart contracts.
Open term DeFi & MarketsAMM
An automated market maker that prices trades through pool formulas.
Open term DeFi & MarketsImpermanent Loss
Loss relative to holding assets when liquidity pool prices move.
Open term DeFi & MarketsLiquidation
Forced closing or sale of collateral when loan conditions are breached.
Open term DeFi & MarketsCollateral
Assets pledged to support borrowing or other obligations.
Open term DeFi & MarketsLoan-to-Value
A ratio comparing borrowed value to collateral value.
Open term DeFi & MarketsStablecoin
A token designed to track a reference value such as one US dollar.
Open term DeFi & MarketsDepeg
When a pegged asset trades away from its target value.
Open term DeFi & MarketsToken Unlock
A scheduled release of tokens that were previously locked.
Open term DeFi & MarketsVesting
A schedule that gradually releases tokens or equity over time.
Open term DeFi & MarketsCirculating Supply
Tokens currently available in the market under a chosen definition.
Open term DeFi & MarketsTotal Supply
All existing tokens, including locked or non-circulating tokens.
Open term DeFi & MarketsFDV
Fully diluted valuation based on total supply and token price.
Open term DeFi & MarketsMarket Cap
Token price multiplied by circulating supply.
Open term Research & DataProtocol Fees
Amounts users pay when using a protocol before distribution decisions.
Open term Research & DataProtocol Revenue
The portion of fees retained by a protocol or directed to stakeholders.
Open term Research & DataTrading Volume
The value of assets traded during a period.
Open term Research & DataActive Address
An address that performed a defined on-chain action during a period.
Open term Research & DataNet Flow
The difference between assets entering and leaving a protocol, chain, or wallet group.
Open term Research & DataWhale
A wallet or entity holding or moving a comparatively large amount of assets.
Open term Research & DataSmart Money
An informal label for wallets believed to have strong timing or performance.
Open term Research & DataCohort
A group of users or addresses grouped by shared timing or behavior.
Open term Research & DataRetention
The share of users or addresses returning after a first activity.
Open term Research & DataWash Trading
Artificial trading activity intended to inflate volume or rewards.
Open term Research & DataSybil
One person or entity controlling many accounts to appear as many users.
Open term Research & DataIncentive Farming
Activity driven mainly by rewards rather than organic product value.
Open term Research & DataData Caveat
A limitation or assumption that changes how a metric should be interpreted.
Open term Research & DataMethodology
The steps and definitions used to produce an analysis.
Open term Research & DataDashboard
A visual interface for metrics, often built from queries or datasets.
Open term Research & DataPrimary Source
Original material such as docs, contracts, governance posts, data, or official announcements.
Open term Governance & EcosystemDAO
A blockchain-based organization coordinating decisions, assets, or contributors.
Open term Governance & EcosystemGovernance Proposal
A formal suggestion to change protocol rules, spend funds, or make ecosystem decisions.
Open term Governance & EcosystemQuorum
The minimum participation required for a vote to be valid.
Open term Governance & EcosystemDelegation
Assigning voting power to another address or representative without transferring ownership.
Open term Governance & EcosystemTreasury
Assets controlled by a protocol, DAO, foundation, or company.
Open term Governance & EcosystemGrant
Funding for builders, researchers, communities, or projects with agreed work.
Open term Governance & EcosystemPublic Goods
Resources that benefit a broad ecosystem and are hard to restrict to paying users.
Open term Governance & EcosystemContributor
A person providing ongoing or task-based work without necessarily being a standard employee.
Open term Governance & EcosystemBounty
A defined task with a reward for an accepted result.
Open term Governance & EcosystemEcosystem
Projects, users, developers, partners, infrastructure, and communities around a chain or protocol.
Open term Governance & EcosystemFoundation
An organization that supports ecosystem, protocol, or community development.
Open term Governance & EcosystemWorking Group
A focused group responsible for an ongoing DAO or ecosystem function.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialSnapshot
A recorded state of balances or activity at a specific time.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialNFT
A token representing a distinct on-chain item, right, credential, or collectible.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialMint
The process of creating or issuing a new token or NFT on-chain.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialFloor Price
The lowest listed sale price for an NFT collection item at a time.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialRoyalty
A payment designed to go to a creator or rights holder when an asset is sold.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialSoulbound Token
A non-transferable or identity-linked token used for credentials, reputation, or membership.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialAccount Abstraction
Wallet architecture enabling programmable account behavior such as recovery or sponsored gas.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialSocial Graph
A representation of relationships, follows, interactions, or reputation between users.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialPoints Program
A system tracking user activity that may influence rewards or access.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialAirdrop
A distribution of tokens or assets to selected users, contributors, or addresses.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialMarketplace
A platform where users list, buy, or sell digital assets or services.
Open term NFT, Consumer & SocialReputation
Signals that suggest reliability, contribution, or credibility.
Open term Career & HiringProof of Work
A public sample showing how a person thinks and executes.
Open term Career & HiringPortfolio
A selected collection of work samples and case studies.
Open term Career & HiringCase Study
A structured explanation of context, decision, execution, result, and limits.
Open term Career & HiringTrial Task
A limited evaluation assignment used during hiring.
Open term Career & HiringDeliverable
A specific output expected from a role, project, campaign, or agreement.
Open term Career & HiringKPI
A key performance indicator measuring progress toward an outcome.
Open term Career & HiringRetainer
A recurring payment arrangement for ongoing availability or monthly scope.
Open term Career & HiringToken Compensation
Payment partly or fully made in tokens.
Open term Career & HiringAsync Work
Work coordinated without everyone online at the same time.
Open term Career & HiringContractor
A worker engaged under a service agreement rather than standard employment.
Open term Career & HiringApplicant Tracking System
Software used to collect, filter, and manage job applications.
Open term Career & HiringScam Check
A repeatable review of domains, identities, links, payment requests, and secrets.
Open term Career & HiringCV
A concise work-history document focused on relevance and evidence.
Open term Career & HiringApplication
A targeted response to a role or opportunity.
Open term Career & HiringOutreach
A direct message or email that starts a professional conversation.
Open term Career & HiringFollow-up
A professional reminder or update after applying or speaking with a team.
Open term Career & HiringInterview
A hiring conversation used to evaluate judgment, skill, and fit.
Open term Career & HiringSTAR
A structure: situation, task, action, result.
Open term Career & HiringScope
The agreed boundaries of a task, project, or role.
Open term Growth & OperationsCommunity Health
Quality, usefulness, safety, retention, and sentiment of a community.
Open term Growth & OperationsActivation
The moment a new user experiences initial product value.
Open term