UTXO Set
technical · blockchain
The current database of all unspent transaction outputs that full nodes use to validate new spends.
The UTXO set contains every output that can currently be spent. Full nodes update it as blocks arrive by deleting spent outputs and adding newly created outputs.
UTXO set size affects node memory, disk use, and validation speed because nodes must check new transaction inputs against it. Dust and spam can increase this burden even when transaction value is tiny.
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
Node
→Software that participates in a peer-to-peer network by validating, serving, relaying, or requesting blockchain data.
network · blockchain
Full Node
→Software that independently validates blocks and transactions against a network's consensus rules.
node · blockchain