{"id":85870,"date":"2023-07-18T11:05:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T11:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&p=85870"},"modified":"2023-07-18T13:02:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:02:53","slug":"solidity","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/solidity","title":{"rendered":"Solidity"},"content":{"rendered":"
Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level programming language<\/a> specifically designed for creating and implementing smart contracts<\/a> on various blockchain<\/a> platforms. These platforms predominantly include Ethereum<\/a>, but Solidity has been used on others, such as Polkadot<\/a>, as well.<\/p>\n Solidity’s syntax draws inspiration from influential languages like C++<\/a>, Python<\/a>, and JavaScript<\/a>, lending it an air of familiarity for developers<\/a> versed in these languages.<\/p>\n Smart contracts, the central application of Solidity, are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code.<\/p>\n They enable trusted transactions and agreements to be carried out without the need for a central authority, legal system, or external enforcement mechanisms.<\/p>\n Solidity breathes life into these contracts, providing a robust set of features, such as complex member variables, inheritance schemes, and type-safe functions, to craft intricate and secure blockchain applications.<\/p>\n Running on the Ethereum Virtual Machine<\/a> (EVM) or EVM-compatible virtual machines, Solidity programs harness the power of blockchain technology, playing a crucial role in the development and operation of decentralized applications<\/a> (dApps).<\/p>\n In August 2014, Gavin Wood, the co-founder of Ethereum, proposed Solidity, an object-oriented programming language designed to enable the development and implementation of smart contracts on various blockchain platforms.<\/p>\n Under the guidance of lead developer Christian Reitwiessner, a team of ex-Ethereum core contributors, including Alex Beregszaszi, crafted Solidity.<\/p>\n The language is most prominently associated with the Ethereum blockchain, but it also operates seamlessly with other EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatible virtual machines.<\/p>\n Solidity’s inception aligned with the surge in popularity of Ethereum’s enterprise-oriented blockchain, Hyperledger Fabric, and private blockchains alike.<\/p>\n It found broad applications. For instance, SWIFT<\/a> harnessed its capabilities in a proof of concept running on Hyperledger Fabric.<\/p>\n Like any language, Solidity has its drawbacks.<\/p>\n \/\/ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0 contract Coin { \/\/ Events allow clients to react to specific \/\/ Constructor code is only run when the contract \/\/ Sends an amount of newly created coins to an address \/\/ Errors allow you to provide information about \/\/ Sends an amount of existing coins balances[msg.sender] -= amount; Despite the plethora of challenges as a new and emerging programming language, Solidity has carved out a significant place in the programming landscape due to its instrumental role in powering Ethereum’s smart contracts.<\/p>\n Like any tool, its effectiveness depends on how it’s wielded, demanding developers to be conscious of both its strengths and limitations to truly unleash its potential.<\/p>\n As the role of smart contracts grows in the future of financial ecosystems, it can be expected the role of Solidity will grow too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What Is Solidity? Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level programming language specifically designed for creating and implementing smart contracts on various blockchain platforms. These platforms predominantly include Ethereum, but Solidity has been used on others, such as Polkadot, as well. How Does Solidity Work? Solidity’s syntax draws inspiration from influential languages like C++, Python, and JavaScript, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286474,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[271,272],"class_list":["post-85870","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","definitioncat-blockchain","definitioncat-cryptocurrency"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow Does Solidity Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n
How Was Solidity Created?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Pros and Cons of Solidity<\/span><\/h2>\n
Advantages of Solidity<\/h3>\n
\n
Disadvantages of Solidity<\/h3>\n
\n
Example of Solidity<\/span><\/h2>\n
\npragma solidity ^0.8.4;<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ The keyword “public” makes variables
\n\/\/ accessible from other contracts
\naddress public minter;
\nmapping(address => uint) public balances;<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ contract changes you declare
\nevent Sent(address from, address to, uint amount);<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ is created
\nconstructor() {
\nminter = msg.sender;
\n}<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ Can only be called by the contract creator
\nfunction mint(address receiver, uint amount) public {
\nrequire(msg.sender == minter);
\nbalances[receiver] += amount;
\n}<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ why an operation failed. They are returned
\n\/\/ to the caller of the function.
\nerror InsufficientBalance(uint requested, uint available);<\/p>\n
\n\/\/ from any caller to an address
\nfunction send(address receiver, uint amount) public {
\nif (amount > balances[msg.sender])
\nrevert InsufficientBalance({
\nrequested: amount,
\navailable: balances[msg.sender]\n});<\/p>\n
\nbalances[receiver] += amount;
\nemit Sent(msg.sender, receiver, amount);
\n}
\n}<\/p>\nThe Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n