What is a Blockchain Transaction?
A transaction is any action recorded on a blockchain. It could be a simple transfer of cryptocurrency, an interaction with a smart contract, or a deployment of new code.
Anatomy of a Transaction
Every transaction includes these key fields:
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Transaction Hash | A unique ID for the transaction (like a receipt number) |
| Status | Whether the transaction succeeded or failed |
| Block | Which block this transaction was included in |
| From | The address that initiated the transaction |
| To | The destination address (a wallet or contract) |
| Value | Amount of native currency transferred (e.g., ETH) |
| Gas Used | How much computational work the transaction required |
| Gas Price | How much was paid per unit of gas |
| Input Data | The data sent with the transaction (function calls, parameters) |
Transaction Lifecycle
- Created: A user signs a transaction with their wallet (MetaMask, etc.)
- Pending: The transaction enters the mempool (waiting room) until a validator picks it up
- Included: A validator includes the transaction in a new block
- Confirmed: As more blocks are mined on top, the transaction becomes increasingly final
How to Look Up a Transaction
On Omniscanner, you can search for any transaction by pasting its hash into the search bar. The transaction detail page shows all the fields listed above, plus:
- Token Transfers: Any ERC-20 tokens moved as part of the transaction
- Event Logs: Events emitted by smart contracts
- Input Data: The raw calldata for contract interactions