Difference between revisions of "Invoice address"

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For every visible address, 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.
 
For every visible address, 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.
  
Most Bitcoin addresses are 33 characters.  A significant percentage of Bitcoin addresses are only 32 characters - these are completely valid.  Several of the characters inside a Bitcoin address are used as a [[Base58Check encoding|checksum]] so that typos can be automatically detected and rejected.
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Most Bitcoin addresses are 33 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 always avoided.  Bitcoin adheres to a rule of always using the number "1" as the first character - this allows visual discrimination from other types of random character strings that might look like Bitcoin addresses - such as [[private key]]s which start with "5", or coins from Bitcoin's [[testnet]] (which typically start with "m"), or coins from other cryptocurrency systems derived from Bitcoin's source code (which are not compatible with Bitcoin).
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Some Bitcoin addresses can be shorter than 33 characters.  A significant percentage of Bitcoin addresses are only 32 characters - these are completely valid.  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.
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Several of the characters inside a Bitcoin address are used as a [[Base58Check encoding|checksum]] so that typos can be automatically detected and rejected.
  
 
:''See also: [[Technical background of Bitcoin addresses]]
 
:''See also: [[Technical background of Bitcoin addresses]]
 
[[Category:Vocabulary]]
 
[[Category:Vocabulary]]

Revision as of 17:04, 22 November 2011

A Bitcoin address, or simply address, is an identifier of approximately 33 alphanumeric characters, always beginning with the number 1, that represents a possible destination for a Bitcoin payment. Addresses can be generated at no cost by any user of Bitcoin. For example, using the Bitcoin software, one can click "Get Address" and be assigned an address. An example of a Bitcoin address is 175tWpb8K1S7NmH4Zx6rewF9WQrcZv245W.

Like e-mail, you can send Bitcoins to a person by sending Bitcoins to their address. Somewhat unlike e-mail, one person can have an unlimited number of different Bitcoin addresses. A unique address for each transaction is recommended as a best practice, and enhances anonymity when using the system.

Creating addresses can be done without any contact with the Bitcoin network. Address creation can be done completely offline, even in large batches. Large batches of addresses are useful in many scenarios, such as e-commerce websites where a unique pre-generated address is dispensed to each customer if they choose a "pay with Bitcoin" option.

Bitcoin addresses are case-sensitive. Typically, Bitcoin addresses should be copied and pasted using the computer's clipboard wherever possible. If a Bitcoin address is hand-keyed, and each character is not transcribed exactly - including capitalization - the incorrect address will typically be rejected.

For every visible address, 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.

Most Bitcoin addresses are 33 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 always avoided. Bitcoin adheres to a rule of always using the number "1" as the first character - this allows visual discrimination from other types of random character strings that might look like Bitcoin addresses - such as private keys which start with "5", or coins from Bitcoin's testnet (which typically start with "m"), or coins from other cryptocurrency systems derived from Bitcoin's source code (which are not compatible with Bitcoin).

Some Bitcoin addresses can be shorter than 33 characters. A significant percentage of Bitcoin addresses are only 32 characters - these are completely valid. 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 typos can be automatically detected and rejected.

See also: Technical background of Bitcoin addresses