Transaction Logs

Definition ∞ Transaction logs, in a blockchain context, are immutable records of events emitted by smart contracts during the execution of transactions. These logs are stored separately from the main state data but are permanently associated with specific blocks and transactions. They provide a historical audit trail of contract interactions, parameter values, and other relevant data. External applications use these logs to monitor contract activity and reconstruct the history of decentralized applications.
Context ∞ Transaction logs are essential for the transparency, debuggability, and auditing of smart contract operations and are frequently utilized by block explorers and analytics platforms. News reports on smart contract exploits or unusual on-chain activity often involve detailed analysis of these logs to understand the sequence of events. Developers rely on well-structured logs for debugging and for building robust off-chain services that interact with decentralized protocols.