Output
blockchain
A spendable unit of cryptocurrency created by transactions; referenced as an input when later spent.
- Also known as
- UTXO
Outputs are discrete chunks of value created by transactions. Each output can be spent once by referencing it as an input in a future transaction that satisfies its locking script.
Wallets manage sets of outputs, not a single account balance. Coin selection chooses which outputs to spend, and good wallet behavior avoids creating tiny uneconomical outputs that may cost more to spend than they are worth.
Related terms
Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO)
→A discrete spendable output on a UTXO blockchain, similar to a digital coin that must be spent whole.
technical · blockchain
Transaction
→A serialized state transition that a blockchain can validate, relay, and include in a block.
blockchain · technical
Wallet
→Software or hardware that manages signing credentials, addresses, transactions, and access to blockchain assets.
wallet · security