Contract Delegation

Definition ∞ Contract delegation in blockchain refers to the ability of one smart contract or address to grant permissions to another entity to execute specific functions on its behalf. This mechanism allows for modularity and shared control over digital assets or protocol functionalities. It enables complex interactions within decentralized applications, facilitating operations like multi-signature wallets or proxy contracts. The delegated permissions are usually specific and revocable.
Context ∞ Contract delegation is a common architectural pattern in DeFi protocols, enabling liquid staking, governance participation, and various forms of composability. News often covers security incidents related to improperly managed delegations, where unauthorized access leads to asset loss. Understanding delegation is key to assessing the security and operational risks of many advanced blockchain applications.