Definition ∞ Third-party notification is an alert or message sent to an external entity about an event or transaction. This refers to a communication sent to an independent, external service or individual about a specific event or transaction occurring within a blockchain protocol or smart contract. This often involves alerting oracle services, off-chain systems, or designated monitoring entities about state changes, critical events, or data updates. Such notifications are essential for enabling interoperability and reacting to on-chain activities.
Context ∞ Discussions in crypto news often address the reliability and security of third-party notification systems, especially concerning decentralized applications that rely on off-chain data or actions. The integrity of these notifications is critical for the correct functioning of many decentralized finance protocols. Developments in secure and verifiable notification methods are key to building more robust and interconnected blockchain ecosystems.