Receipt (Ethereum)

A receipt in Ethereum is a data structure returned by the Ethereum client immediately after a transaction has been executed and permanently recorded in a block. It contains crucial information about transaction execution, including the transaction hash, block number, gas used, contract address (for deployments), logs emitted by smart contracts, and most importantly, the transaction status indicating success or failure. The receipt serves as cryptographic proof that a transaction occurred and provides detailed insights into how the Ethereum Virtual Machine processed the transaction, making it essential for confirming transaction completion, debugging contract interactions, and verifying that state changes occurred as intended. Example: After a user swaps tokens on Uniswap, they receive a transaction hash. By querying the Ethereum network, they obtain a receipt showing the exact amount of gas consumed, the logs indicating token transfers, the status code confirming successful execution, and the cumulative gas used in that block—allowing them to verify the swap completed correctly. Why it matters for blockchain technology: Receipts provide essential accountability and transparency for smart contract interactions. They enable users to verify transaction execution results, help developers debug failed transactions, support auditing requirements, and create an immutable record of contract state changes that can be independently verified by anyone accessing the blockchain.

Category: blockchain technology

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