Smart Contract Calls

Definition ∞ Smart contract calls are specific instructions or requests executed by a smart contract, triggering a particular function or operation within its code. These calls are fundamental to the execution of decentralized applications, enabling automated agreements and interactions on a blockchain. Each call represents an attempt to modify the contract’s state or retrieve information from it. Context ∞ The frequency and nature of smart contract calls are closely monitored as indicators of network activity and the adoption of decentralized applications. Discussions often revolve around optimizing these calls to reduce transaction costs (gas fees) and improve network throughput, especially on platforms like Ethereum. Analyzing call patterns provides insights into user behavior and the functional usage of blockchain protocols.