Glossary
195 XRP Ledger terms, plain and technical.
A
AccountAn address with an AccountRoot ledger entry that holds XRP, settings and a sequence number. Needs the base reserve.Account domainAn account's Domain field. Matched by the site's xrp-ledger.toml, it links account and domain both ways.AccountDeleteTransaction that removes an account and sends its remaining XRP to another account. Costs one owner reserve as its fee.AddressAn account's public identifier: 25 to 35 characters starting with r, derived from its master public key.Allow Trust Line LockingIssuer account flag that lets its trust line tokens be held in escrow.AmendmentA change to the XRPL's rules. It activates after over 80% of trusted validators support it for two weeks.Amendment blockedA server lacking code for an enabled amendment. It stops processing transactions until upgraded.Amendment majorityWhen over 80% of trusted validators support an amendment. Held for two weeks, the amendment is enabled.Asset scaleAn MPT setting for decimal places. One unit equals 10^-scale of the display unit.AttestationA witness server's signed statement that an event happened on the other chain.Auction slotA 24-hour AMM slot, bought with LP tokens, that cuts the holder's trading fee to one tenth.AuditorAn optional party whose key also encrypts each confidential MPT balance, so it can read them. Proposed.Authorized minterAn account an NFT issuer names in its NFTokenMinter field to mint NFTs on its behalf.Authorized trust linesIssuer setting (Require Auth) where each trust line needs the issuer's approval before it can hold the token.Auto-bridgingAutomatic routing of a token-to-token offer through XRP when that gives a better rate.Automated market makerAn on-ledger pool for one asset pair that prices trades by formula. Live since 2024-03-22 (XLS-30).
B
Base reserveThe minimum XRP an account must hold to exist. 1 XRP since December 2024.BatchA transaction bundling up to 8 inner transactions under one of four modes, such as all-or-nothing.Blackholed accountAn account nobody can sign for: master key disabled, no usable regular key and no signer list.Block explorerA website for looking up ledgers, accounts and transactions on a network.Brokered saleA third party matches a buy offer and a sell offer for an NFT, keeping the difference as its fee.
C
CancelAfterEscrow field: the time after which it expires. It can no longer finish, and anyone can cancel it.Canonical orderThe fixed order in which every server applies a ledger's agreed transactions. Not arrival order.Channel claimA signed off-ledger message letting a payee collect XRP from a payment channel, redeemed with PaymentChannelClaim.CheckA deferred payment: CheckCreate writes it, the recipient cashes it with CheckCash. Funds are not locked.ClawbackIssuer power to take tokens back from a holder. It must be enabled before issuing; XRP cannot be clawed back.ClioAn API server for validated ledger data. It reads from an xrpld server and does not join the peer network.Closed-ended vaultA vault with fixed subscription, investment and redemption dates. Needs LendingProtocolV1_1.Confidential TransfersMPT balances and amounts hidden with EC-ElGamal encryption and zero-knowledge proofs (XLS-96). Proposed; in validator voting.ConsensusHow validators agree on each new ledger, about every 4 seconds, with no mining or staking.CredentialAn on-ledger attestation an issuer makes about a subject account. It is valid once the subject accepts it.Cross-chain claim IDA number created on the destination chain that represents one bridge transfer.Cross-currency paymentA Payment where the sender spends one asset and the receiver gets another, converted through the DEX.Crypto-conditionA hash lock on an escrow: it releases only with the matching fulfillment. PREIMAGE-SHA-256 is the only supported type.Currency codeA token's code: three ASCII characters or 40 hex characters. "XRP" is reserved for the native asset.Custodial walletA service, such as an exchange, that holds the keys for you. You depend on it to send or withdraw.
D
Decentralized exchangeThe exchange built into the XRPL protocol: order books plus AMM pools for trading XRP and tokens.Deep FreezeA stronger freeze: the holder can neither send nor receive the token from others. Sending to the issuer still works.Default RippleAccount flag that allows rippling on its trust lines. Issuers need it so holders can pay each other.Default UNLThe recommended validator lists servers use by default, published by the XRPL Foundation and by Ripple.DelegateThe account granted permissions with DelegateSet. It signs and pays the fee; the delegator's sequence advances.delivered_amountMetadata showing what a Payment delivered. Credit deposits from this, never from the Amount field.Deposit AuthorizationAccount setting that blocks incoming payments except from senders preauthorized by address or credential.Deposit preauthorizationApproval for one account or a set of credentials to pay an account that uses Deposit Authorization.Destination tagA 32-bit number on a payment that tells a shared address, such as an exchange, which customer to credit.DevnetA test network for beta releases and features not yet on Mainnet. It can be reset.DIDA W3C Decentralized Identifier tied to an XRPL account, stored in a DID ledger entry.Domain verificationA two-way link between a validator key and a domain, through an xrp-ledger.toml file.Door accountThe account at each end of a bridge. It locks assets or issues wrapped ones.DropThe smallest unit of XRP. One drop is one millionth of an XRP.Dynamic NFTAn NFT minted with the mutable flag. The issuer or its authorized minter can change its URI with NFTokenModify.DynamicMPTLets MPT issuers change metadata, transfer fee and some flags after creation, unless locked. Proposed; in validator voting.
E
F
FaucetA service that funds accounts on Testnet or Devnet with free test XRP.Fee escalationUnder heavy load the open ledger cost climbs exponentially. Lower-fee transactions wait in a queue for later ledgers.Fee levelA transaction's fee relative to the minimum for its type. The minimum is 256 levels.Fee votingValidators vote on the reference cost and reserves. Changes apply through a SetFee pseudo-transaction at flag ledgers.FinishAfterEscrow field: the time after which anyone can finish the escrow and release its funds.First-loss capitalFunds a loan broker deposits that absorb part of a default's loss before vault depositors. Proposed.Flag ledgerA ledger whose index is a multiple of 256. Amendment and fee votes are tallied around it.FreezeIssuer action on one trust line: the holder can no longer send the token, except back to the issuer.FulfillmentThe secret preimage that matches an escrow's crypto-condition and lets the escrow finish.Full history serverA server that keeps every available ledger, from index 32570 onward, with online deletion turned off.
G
GasUnit that meters computation for program code. Used by the Smart Escrows draft and the EVM sidechain.GatewayOlder XRPL term for a business that issues tokens and exchanges them for outside money or assets.Global freezeIssuer setting that freezes all its tokens at once. Holders can still send to and receive from the issuer.Granular permissionA delegable slice of one transaction type, such as authorizing trust lines. Fixed in the protocol.
H
Hardware walletA device that keeps private keys offline and signs transactions on the device itself.HooksSmall WebAssembly programs attached to accounts that run on their transactions. They run on Xahau, not the XRPL.Host functionA function the server provides so sandboxed WASM code can read ledger data.Hub serverAn xrpld server with many peer connections that relays messages across the network.
I
Impermanent lossWhat a liquidity provider gives up versus holding the assets, when the pool's price ratio moves.Inbox balanceEncrypted balance that receives confidential transfers until merged into the spending balance.Inner transactionA transaction inside a Batch. It has the tfInnerBatchTxn flag, a zero fee and no signature.Issued tokenA fungible token created by an account rather than the protocol. Held on trust lines or as an MPT.IssuerThe account that creates a token. Its settings decide fees, freezes and who may hold the token.Issuing chainThe chain that mints and burns the wrapped version of a bridged asset.
K
L
Ledger entryOne object in the ledger's state, such as an AccountRoot, an Offer or a RippleState trust line.Ledger indexA ledger version's sequence number. Each new ledger's index is one higher than the last.Ledger versionOne block of the XRP Ledger: a header, the transactions applied, and the full state after them.Lending ProtocolFixed-term, uncollateralized loans funded from a Single Asset Vault (XLS-66). Proposed; in validator voting.Liquidity poolThe two assets an AMM holds, supplied by liquidity providers and used to fill trades.Liquidity providerAn account that deposits assets into an AMM pool and holds its LP tokens.LoanA Loan ledger entry for one borrower: principal, interest rate and payment schedule. Created with LoanSet. Proposed.Loan brokerThe account and LoanBroker entry that run a lending vault: fees, loan terms and first-loss capital. Proposed.Locking chainThe chain where a bridged asset originates and stays locked.LP tokenA token an AMM issues to depositors. It redeems for a share of the pool, including earned fees.
M
MainnetThe production XRP Ledger network, where XRP has real value. Its network ID is 0.Master keyThe key pair an address is derived from. It cannot be changed, but it can be disabled.MemoOptional data attached to a transaction, up to 1 KB. It is public and permanent.MintTo create a new token or NFT. NFTs are minted with NFTokenMint.MPT issuanceThe MPTokenIssuance ledger entry that defines an MPT: maximum supply, asset scale, transfer fee, metadata and flags.MPT Issuance IDThe 192-bit number that identifies one MPT issuance. Tickers in metadata are not unique.Multi-Purpose TokenA fungible token type (XLS-33) held without trust lines, as integer balances. Not yet tradable on the DEX.Multi-signingSigning a transaction with several keys from a signer list, whose weights must reach the list's quorum.
N
Negative UNLTrusted validators judged offline and temporarily left out of the quorum count. At most 25% of the UNL.NFTA unique token (NFToken) native to the XRPL since 2022-10-31, under XLS-20.NFT flagsSettings fixed at mint: burnable, only XRP, transferable and mutable.NFT ID256-bit identifier that encodes an NFT's flags, transfer fee, issuer, taxon and sequence.NFT offerAn NFTokenOffer to buy or sell an NFT. The other side accepts it with NFTokenAcceptOffer.NFT pageAn NFTokenPage ledger entry holding up to 32 of one account's NFTs.NFT transfer feeThe issuer's cut of NFT resales, 0% to 50%, fixed at mint. Requires the transferable flag.No FreezeA permanent issuer setting that gives up freezing individual trust lines and ending a global freeze.No RippleTrust line flag that blocks rippling through that line. Non-issuers should keep it on.
O
Obsolete amendmentAn amendment removed or marked for removal without being enabled. Validators cannot vote for it.OfferAn OfferCreate order to trade one asset for another at a set rate. Unfilled parts rest in the order book.Online deletionAn xrpld feature that deletes old ledger versions while running. The default config keeps 2,000.Open ledger costThe fee needed to enter the current open ledger. It rises exponentially once the ledger passes a soft limit.Operational addressAn issuer's hot wallet for daily payments. It holds tokens issued by the separate issuing address.Order bookAll open offers for one asset pair, ranked by exchange rate.Owner countThe OwnerCount field: how many reserve-counting objects an account owns. Each adds one owner reserve.Owner directoryLedger entries listing every object an account owns, such as trust lines, offers and escrows.Owner reserveXRP locked for each object an account owns. 0.2 XRP since December 2024.
P
Partial paymentA Payment with tfPartialPayment set. It may deliver less than its Amount field shows.PathA route of order books, AMMs or trust lines that a payment can take between assets or accounts.PathfindingSearching for payment paths, with the path_find or ripple_path_find API methods.PaymentThe Payment transaction: sends XRP or a token from one account to another.Payment channelXRP locked for fast off-ledger claims from payer to payee, settled on the ledger later.Peer-to-peer networkThe xrpld servers that relay transactions, proposals and validations directly to each other.Permission delegationLetting another account send chosen transaction types for yours, granted with DelegateSet. Up to 10 permissions.Permissioned DEXOrder books tied to a permissioned domain. Only domain members can trade there.Permissioned domainAn allow-list defined by up to 10 accepted credentials. Holding any one makes an account a member.PhishingA fake site, message or sign request made to steal your secret or trick you into signing.Price oracleAn Oracle ledger entry where a provider posts up to 10 price pairs with OracleSet.Pseudo-accountAn account the protocol creates to hold assets for an AMM or a vault. It has no signing authority.Pseudo-transactionA transaction that validators insert, unsigned and fee-free, such as EnableAmendment or SetFee.
Q
R
Range proofZero-knowledge proof that a hidden amount is not negative and within a valid range.Recovery phraseA list of words, often 12 or 24, that encodes a wallet's keys. Anyone holding it controls the funds.Reference transaction costThe minimum cost of a standard transaction, set by fee voting. It was 10 drops on 2026-11-10.Regular keyA secondary key pair, set with SetRegularKey, that can sign for an account. It can be changed or removed.Result codeA code showing how a transaction ended. The prefix gives the class: tes, tec, tef, tel, tem or ter.RippleA US company that uses the XRPL and XRP in its payments business. It does not control the ledger.Ripple EpochThe XRPL's time origin, 2000-01-01 00:00 UTC. Ledger timestamps count seconds since then.RipplingIndirect movement of a token through an intermediary's trust lines during a payment.
S
SecretThe seed, a base58 string starting with s, that generates an account's keys. Whoever holds it controls the account.Secret numbersAn account secret written as eight blocks of six digits (XLS-12). Xaman uses this format.Self-custodyHolding your own keys, so only you can sign for your account.Sequence numberA per-account counter. Each transaction must use the next number, which blocks replays and duplicates.Server stateThe server_info value showing sync status, from disconnected to full, validating or proposing.SidechainAn independent blockchain with its own validators and rules, linked to a main chain by a bridge.Sign requestA prompt from an app asking your wallet to sign a specific transaction. Check every field before approving.Signer listA SignerList ledger entry naming 1 to 32 signers, each with a weight, plus a quorum. Set with SignerListSet.Single Asset VaultA pool of one asset from many depositors, who receive MPT shares (XLS-65). Proposed; in validator voting.Smart EscrowProposed escrow whose release a small WebAssembly program decides (XLS-100). Not yet in a server release, so not votable.Source tagA 32-bit number on a payment that identifies the sender at a shared address. Used for returns.SponseeThe account whose fees or reserves a sponsor covers. It keeps its own keys.SponsorAn account that pays another account's transaction fees or reserves (XLS-68). Proposed; in validator voting.Sponsorship entryLedger entry holding a sponsor's pre-funded fee and reserve budget for one sponsee.StablecoinA token designed to track a fiat currency, usually backed by reserves its issuer holds off-ledger.Stand-alone modeAn xrpld mode with no peers and no consensus. Ledgers advance manually. For testing.Stock serverAn xrpld server that follows the network and answers API calls but does not validate.
T
TaxonA number an issuer gives every NFT in the same series or collection (NFTokenTaxon).tesSUCCESSThe result code for a successful transaction. It is final only once in a validated ledger.TestnetA public test network on stable releases. Its XRP is free, has no value, and can be reset.Tick sizeIssuer setting from 3 to 15 that trims offer exchange rates to that many significant digits.TicketA sequence number set aside with TicketCreate, so a transaction can be sent out of order. Max 250 per account.Token EscrowEscrow for trust line tokens and MPTs, live through the TokenEscrow amendment. The issuer must allow it.Total supplyXRP in existence, the ledger's total_coins. 100 billion at genesis; about 99.986 billion on 2026-11-10 after fee burns.Trading feeThe fee an AMM charges on swaps, 0% to 1%, set by a vote weighted by LP tokens.TransactionA signed instruction that changes the ledger, such as a Payment or OfferCreate. Each one destroys a small XRP fee.Transaction costXRP a transaction must destroy to deter spam. A standard transaction cost 10 drops on 2026-11-10.Transaction hashA transaction's unique ID, a hash of its signed form. Use it to look the transaction up.Transaction metadataData added when a transaction applies: its result code, the ledger entries it changed and, for payments, delivered_amount.Transaction queueWhere a server holds transactions that pay its load cost but not the open ledger cost, for a later ledger.Transfer feeAn issuer-set percentage, 0% to 100%, that the sender pays when holders transfer a token between themselves.Trimmed meanAn average taken after dropping a set percentage of the highest and lowest values.Trust lineA ledger link between two accounts that holds one token's balance, up to a limit the holder sets.Trust line limitThe most of a token an account agrees to hold on a trust line. Incoming payments cannot push past it.
U
Unfunded offerAn offer whose owner lacks the asset it sells. It stays in the ledger until a transaction removes it.UNLUnique Node List: the validators a server trusts not to collude. Only their votes count for that server.Unrealized lossA vault's expected loss that is not yet final. Withdrawals are priced with it subtracted.URIUp to 256 bytes on an NFT, usually a link to its metadata. The ledger does not check it.
V
Validated ledgerA ledger version that a quorum of trusted validators has confirmed. Its contents are final.ValidatorAn xrpld server set up to send validation votes in consensus. It earns no rewards.Validator tokenA credential made from a validator's offline master key. It sits in xrpld.cfg and can be rotated.Vault shareAn MPT a Single Asset Vault issues to depositors for their portion of its assets. Proposed.
W
Wash tradingTrading an asset with yourself or a partner to fake volume or price.WebAssemblyA portable bytecode format (WASM). Xahau Hooks and the proposed XRPL Smart Escrows use it.Witness serverAn independent server that watches both chains of a bridge and signs attestations that transfers happened.
X
X-addressOne string packing an address and a destination tag. It starts with X on Mainnet, T on test networks.XahauA separate network built from XRPL code, with Hooks and its own native token, XAH. Live since October 2023.XChainBridgeBridges that move XRP and tokens between the XRPL and another chain (XLS-38). Proposed; in validator voting.XLSXRP Ledger Standard: a numbered proposal in the XRPL-Standards repository, for an amendment or ecosystem convention.XRPThe XRP Ledger's native asset, used for fees and reserves. 100 billion were created at genesis; none can be added.XRP burnXRP paid as transaction fees is destroyed, not paid to validators. Total supply shrinks slowly.XRP LedgerA public, decentralized blockchain running since June 2012. Its native asset is XRP.xrp-ledger.tomlA file at /.well-known/xrp-ledger.toml listing a domain's accounts, validators and tokens.XRPL EVM sidechainA separate EVM-compatible chain built on the Cosmos SDK, with XRP as its gas token. Mainnet since 2025-06-30.XRPL FoundationA nonprofit association under French law that supports the XRPL and publishes a default validator list.xrpldThe core XRPL server software. It was named rippled until version 3.2.0 in 2026.