State Machines

Definition ∞ State machines are computational models that represent the behavior of a system by defining its possible states and the transitions between them. Each transition is triggered by an event and results in a change to a new state. They provide a structured way to analyze and design systems that react to specific inputs over time. This concept is fundamental in computer science for modeling sequential logic.
Context ∞ In blockchain and smart contract development, state machines are a core conceptual tool for defining the logic and execution flow of decentralized applications. Every transaction on a blockchain causes a state transition, moving the global ledger from one valid configuration to another. News often references the security and correctness of smart contract state transitions. Understanding state machines helps interpret discussions about protocol upgrades, network consensus, and the determinism of blockchain operations.