{"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":"

What Is Solidity?<\/span><\/h2>\n

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

How Does Solidity Work?<\/span><\/h2>\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

How Was Solidity Created?<\/span><\/h2>\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

Pros and Cons of Solidity<\/span><\/h2>\n

Advantages of Solidity<\/h3>\n