Definition ∞ Smart contract communication describes the methods by which different smart contracts, or smart contracts and external applications, exchange information and trigger actions. This interaction is fundamental for building complex decentralized applications and facilitating interoperability between various on-chain components. It enables contracts to read data from each other, call functions, and coordinate their execution. Secure and reliable communication channels are paramount for the proper functioning of decentralized systems.
Context ∞ Smart contract communication is a critical area of development for scaling decentralized applications and improving their user experience. Current discussions often revolve around the efficiency and security of cross-contract calls and the use of oracles to relay external data. A key future development to anticipate is the standardization of inter-contract communication protocols to foster greater interoperability and reduce integration complexities.