WHAT IS A SMART CONTRACT?
A smart contract is a set of computer codes that govern the exchange of assets between two parties. They run on the blockchain, so they are recorded in a public database and can’t be altered.
Smart contracts execute transactions that are handled by the blockchain; thus, they can be sent quickly and without the need for a third party. This eliminates any reliance on others!
The contract is only activated when the conditions in the agreement are satisfied — there is no third party, so there are no concerns about trust.
HOW SMART CONTRACT WORKS?
Simple “if/when…then…” statements, written into code on a blockchain, are what smart contracts perform. When the conditions for a set of actions are met and verified, the actions are carried out by the network of computers. The following steps may be used to take action: releasing cash to the appropriate people, registering a car, sending notifications, or issuing a citation. When the transaction is finished, the blockchain is updated. As a result, the transaction cannot be altered and only parties who have been given authorization can view the results.
There can be as many conditions as required in a smart contract to ensure that the task is completed successfully. To establish the rules, participants must first agree on how transactions and data are represented on the blockchain, determine the “if/when…then…” protocols that govern them, examine all conceivable exceptions, and set out a mechanism for resolving disputes.
The smart contract may then be programmed by a developer, but businesses that utilize blockchain for business often provide templates, user interfaces, and other online tools to assist users in creating their own. In the most basic terms, the contract will appear like this: “WHEN Mary pays Mike 600 Ether, Julie shall acquire ownership of the property”.
The smart contract agreement may not be revised once it has been established, which gives Mary the assurance that she can pay Julie 300 Ether for the house. Mary and Julie would have to pay a lot of fees if they did not utilize a smart contract in this situation. They’d need an attorney, a house broker, and a bank.
Isn’t it fantastic? There will be no more commissions and no longer any delays while the agreement is processed by a lawyer and broker! This is just one of the numerous ways in which a smart contract can be utilized. Contracts that are based on smart contracts are automatically fulfilled once the conditions of the agreement have been satisfied. It’s a decentralized system that eliminates the need for a third party, such as a bank, broker, or government.
HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?
The blockchain, of course, is to thank for this. We are able to decentralize smart contracts thanks to blockchain technology, relieving them of the need for a third party (such as a bank or broker) to mediate disputes. Decentralization means that they are not governed by one central authority (such as a bank, broker, attorney, etc.).
The blockchain is a decentralized database that is maintained by numerous computers (known as “nodes”) operated by many different people. As a result, no single individual or firm has control of it. The fundamental idea of blockchain is that it’s nearly impossible to hack. The hacker would have to compromise more than half of the nodes in order to attack the blockchain or its smart contracts. Smart contracts, in other words, can be safely and automatically carried out without the need for any human intervention! You now have a better grasp of what a smart contract is!
THE ADVANTAGES OF SMART CONTRACTS
Efficacy, speed, and precision
Once a criterion is fulfilled, the contract is immediately carried out. Because smart contracts are electronic and automated, there’s no need for paperwork to be processed or time spent resolving errors that often occur from manually filling in forms.
Integrity and trustworthiness
Because there is no third party, and because transaction records are shared among participants, it’s impossible to ask if data has been altered for personal gain.
Security
Blockchain transaction records are secured by encryption, making them difficult to tamper with. Furthermore, since each record is linked to the preceding and following records on a decentralized ledger, hackers would have to modify the whole chain in order to modify a single entry.
Savings
Smart contracts eliminate the need for intermediaries to handle transactions, resulting in significant savings in terms of time and money.
WHEN DID THE FIRST SMART CONTRACT ORIGINATE?
In 1994, Nick Szabo (a cryptographer), having conceived the concept of contract signatures being written in computer code, published a paper describing it. When certain criteria are fulfilled, this contract would be automatically activated. This concept may potentially obviate the need for trusted third-party businesses (such as banks).
But why, when you can avoid the need for a trusted third party by just using bitcoin? The answer is straightforward: because you no longer require a trusted third party to conduct transactions. Instead, self-executed contracts (or transactions) are maintained on a secure network under the control of computers.
