Invoice address: Difference between revisions
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A '''Bitcoin address''', or simply '''address''', is an identifier of approximately 34 alphanumeric characters, beginning with the number 1 or | A '''Bitcoin address''', or simply '''address''', is an identifier of approximately 34 alphanumeric characters, beginning with the number 1 or 3, that represents a possible destination for a Bitcoin payment. | ||
Addresses can be generated at no cost by any user of Bitcoin. | Addresses can be generated at no cost by any user of Bitcoin. | ||
For example, using [[wxBitcoin]], one can click "Get Address" and be assigned an address. | For example, using [[wxBitcoin]], one can click "Get Address" and be assigned an address. | ||
It is also possible to get a Bitcoin address simply by creating an account at an exchange, to which a Bitcoin address will be automatically assigned. | It is also possible to get a Bitcoin address simply by creating an account at an exchange, to which a Bitcoin address will be automatically assigned. | ||
An example of a Bitcoin address is '' | An example of a Bitcoin address is ''37muSN5ZrukVTvyVh3mT5Zc5ew9L9CBare''. | ||
==A Bitcoin address is like an e-mail address== | ==A Bitcoin address is like an e-mail address== | ||
Revision as of 19:39, 16 December 2011
A Bitcoin address, or simply address, is an identifier of approximately 34 alphanumeric characters, beginning with the number 1 or 3, that represents a possible destination for a Bitcoin payment. Addresses can be generated at no cost by any user of Bitcoin. For example, using wxBitcoin, one can click "Get Address" and be assigned an address. It is also possible to get a Bitcoin address simply by creating an account at an exchange, to which a Bitcoin address will be automatically assigned.
An example of a Bitcoin address is 37muSN5ZrukVTvyVh3mT5Zc5ew9L9CBare.
A Bitcoin address is like an e-mail address
Like e-mail, you can send Bitcoins to a person by sending Bitcoins to their address. Somewhat unlike e-mail, one person can, and is encouraged, to have an unlimited number of different Bitcoin addresses. It is recommended that you use a unique address for each transaction. Most Bitcoin software and websites will help with this, by generating a brand new address each time you perform a transaction, or will provide a button you can click for a new one.
When using a web site that accepts Bitcoins or holds Bitcoin balances on your behalf, that website will assign a Bitcoin address to your account, so you can transfer funds into your account at the site. Very much unlike e-mail, this address will probably change every time funds come in, but the previous addresses will usually remain permanently valid for receiving additional funds. When you send Bitcoins to your account at a web site, they will usually be credited to your account at that web site within an hour (depending on the site's policy) to ensure that the transaction is confirmed.
Addresses can be created offline
Creating addresses can be done without any Internet connection or contact with the Bitcoin network. Creating addresses does not consume any resources on the network - the network only knows about an address when it is first used in a transaction. Because addresses can be created so easily and at no cost, it is trivial to create temporary "throwaway" addresses that can be discarded if never needed.
It is also possible to create large batches of addresses offline, using other software tools. Generating batches of addresses is useful in several scenarios, such as e-commerce websites where a unique pre-generated address is dispensed to each customer who chooses a "pay with Bitcoin" option.
Addresses are case sensitive and exact
Bitcoin addresses are case-sensitive. Bitcoin addresses should be copied and pasted using the computer's clipboard wherever possible.
If you hand-key a Bitcoin address, and each character is not transcribed exactly - including capitalization - the incorrect address will most likely be rejected by the Bitcoin client. You will have to check your entry and try again.
The probability that a mistyped address is accepted as being valid is 1 in 232 or approximately 1 in 4.29 billion.
Most addresses have a "private key"
For most addresses, there is a corresponding secret number known as a private key. When using a Bitcoin client, private key numbers are typically stored in the wallet file. The private key has a special purpose - it is mathematically needed to create transactions acceptable to the Bitcoin network that respend the funds originally sent to the address. If the private key to an address is lost (for example, in a hard drive crash and the user didn't have backups of the wallet file), any associated Bitcoins are lost forever.
What's in an address
Most Bitcoin addresses are 34 characters. They consist of random digits and uppercase and lowercase letters, with the exception that the uppercase letter "O", uppercase letter "I", lowercase letter "l", and the number "0" are never used to prevent visual ambiguity.
Some Bitcoin addresses can be shorter than 34 characters - these are completely valid. A significant percentage of Bitcoin addresses are only 33 characters, and some older addresses may be even shorter. Every Bitcoin address stands for a number - somewhat like an account number. These shorter addresses are valid simply because they stand for numbers that happen to start with zeroes, and when the zeroes are omitted, the encoded address gets shorter.
Several of the characters inside a Bitcoin address are used as a checksum so that typographical errors can be automatically detected and rejected.