Address

Definition

An address is a shareable identifier that tells wallet software where to direct a cryptocurrency payment. In Bitcoin, it usually encodes information used to construct the spending conditions for a transaction output, rather than identifying an account maintained by a central operator. Different address formats support different output types, including legacy, SegWit, and Taproot. An address is not the same as a private key: sharing an address allows someone to send funds or inspect associated public activity, but does not normally give them spending authority. One wallet can generate many addresses, and using a fresh receiving address can reduce straightforward links between payments. Before sending, the sender must check the intended network and the complete destination. A valid checksum can detect certain typing errors, but it cannot prove that the address belongs to the intended recipient or protect against malicious address substitution.