Contract Invariants

Definition ∞ Contract Invariants are conditions or properties within a smart contract that must remain true before and after any transaction execution. These unchangeable rules are fundamental to the contract’s intended behavior and security. Developers specify invariants to ensure the integrity of the contract’s state and its stored assets. Verification of these invariants is critical for preventing logic errors and potential exploits.
Context ∞ In the context of blockchain and smart contract development, contract invariants are a central focus for security audits and formal verification methods. Crypto news often details incidents where invariant violations led to significant asset losses or protocol failures, underscoring their importance. The development of robust tools for identifying and proving invariants is a prominent area of ongoing research and advancement in the digital asset ecosystem.