May 30, 2023

What is Solidity and How is it Used?

Solidity is a programming language created by Ethereum team for creating & executing smart contracts on blockchain platforms. Know more about solidity in this...

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Shardeum Content Team

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Welcome to the world of Solidity! Solidity is a powerful programming language designed for creating smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. Whether you are an aspiring blockchain developer or a curious enthusiast, this guide will give you a comprehensive understanding of Solidity and its applications.

Solidity enables the development of decentralized applications (dapps) that bring transparency, security, and immutability to various industries. Throughout this guide, we will explore Solidity’s syntax, features, and best practices, allowing you to unlock the potential of building decentralized solutions!

What is Solidity?

Solidity is a high-level computer language that is statically typed and can be used to write smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain. It is made to make it possible to make decentralized apps (dapps) by setting the rules and logic for how people on the Ethereum network interact.

Solidity’s code is close to that of JavaScript, which makes it easy for writers who already know how to build websites to use. Using Solidity, developers can create smart contracts that are safe and clean and run on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). This provides a basis for decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized markets, digital identities, and other blockchain-based apps.

How Does Solidity Work?

So, how does Solidity work? Solidity is a computer language with rigid types that can be turned into bytecodes that run on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It enables developers to define the behavior of smart contracts through functions, data structures, and control flow statements.

Solidity supports public and private functions, implements standards and code logic through libraries and interfaces, ensures the immutability of smart contracts once deployed, and manages gas costs to determine the computational resources required for contract execution.

Public and Private Functions

Solidity allows functions to be declared as either public or private. External accounts and contracts can access and invoke public functions, while private functions are only accessible within the smart contract. This access control mechanism ensures the encapsulation of contract logic and provides security by restricting access to sensitive operations.

Standards and Code Logic

Solidity supports the implementation of code logic and standards through libraries and interfaces. Libraries allow reusable code to be shared across multiple contracts, reducing code duplication and enhancing code organization. Interfaces define a standard set of functions that other contracts can adhere to, promoting interoperability and ensuring consistent behavior among different contracts.

Immutability

Solidity enforces immutability for deployed smart contracts. Once a contract is deployed, its code and state cannot be altered. This ensures the integrity and predictability of the contract’s behavior, providing trust and transparency to all participants interacting with the contract on the blockchain.

Gas Costs

Solidity introduces the concept of gas to manage the computational resources required for executing smart contracts. Gas is a unit that represents the cost of performing operations such as storage, computation, and communication on the Ethereum network. Solidity provides mechanisms to estimate and control gas costs, allowing developers to optimize contract efficiency and manage transaction fees associated with contract execution.

How Can Solidity be Used?

Now, how can Solidity be used, exactly?

Solidity can be deployed in several mechanisms to develop decentralized applications (dapps) on the Ethereum blockchain. It lets developers make smart contracts that set the rules and logic for how people in a decentralized network deal with each other. With Solidity, you can build decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, including token issuance, lending, and decentralized exchanges.

It is also used for creating blockchain-based games, digital identities, supply chain management systems, voting systems, and more. Solidity’s flexibility, combined with the Ethereum ecosystem, provides a powerful platform for building innovative and decentralized solutions that are secure, transparent, and trustless.

Who Created Solidity?

Gavin Wood, an early participant in the Ethereum project and a pioneer in the blockchain space, developed Solidity. Solidity, created by Wood, is the main language used to create smart contracts on the Ethereum network. He saw the need for a domain-specific language that would let developers set the parameters for how Ethereum’s decentralized applications function. It was designed by Woods and built by Christian Reitwiessner, Alex Beregszaszi, and a number of former Ethereum core contributors.

The Ethereum community has rapidly accepted Solidity since its first release in 2014. Wood’s work in this area, implemented in Solidity, has been crucial to the evolution of the Ethereum platform and the widespread acceptance of smart contract technology.

On what Programming Languages are Solidity based?

Solidity takes ideas from many different programming languages and uses features and syntax from many different languages. While it is not based on a specific language, Solidity shares similarities with C++, JavaScript, and Python. This makes it easy for developers with different backgrounds and levels of programming experience to use.

Solidity Similarities to C++

Solidity exhibits similarities to C++ in terms of its syntax and object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. It includes inheritance, modifiers, and structs reminiscent of C++. This familiarity makes it easier for developers with C++ experience to transition to Solidity.

Solidity Similarities to JavaScript

Solidity’s syntax and control flow structures are similar to JavaScript. This resemblance allows developers with JavaScript knowledge to quickly grasp Solidity’s concepts and write smart contracts. Additionally, Solidity supports event-driven programming paradigms, similar to JavaScript’s event-driven model.

Solidity Similarities to Python

Solidity incorporates some similarities to Python, such as its use of indentation for code structure and readability. While Solidity is not as extensively similar to Python as it is to C++ or JavaScript, these shared features provide a degree of familiarity for developers with Python experience when learning and working with Solidity.

What EVM-Compatible Blockchains Support Solidity?

As the primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts, Solidity is primarily supported by the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). However, several EVM-compatible blockchains support Solidity too, expanding the possibilities for deploying and executing Solidity-based smart contracts.

1. Shardeum

Shardeum is a smart contract platform built on the EVM that uses dynamic state sharding to keep the network completely decentralized and secure. This means that every time a validator is added to the network, Shardeum can increase its TPS capacity. This will allow Shardeum to keep its gas fees low forever.

It is meant to bring billions of users and a lot of dapps to web3. Like an open, collaborative, and community-driven Internet, Shardeum will make decentralized access easier for everyone. With Shardeum, we hope to become the foundation for web3’s next version.

2. Polkadot

Polkadot is a platform for multiple chains that work with Solidity. It works with Solidity, which lets developers connect Ethereum-based projects to the Polkadot ecosystem. This lets blockchains work together and talk to each other without any problems. This makes it easier to set up and use smart contracts based on Solidity within the Polkadot network.

3. Avalanche

Avalanche is a blockchain that works with EVM and supports Solidity. By supporting Solidity, developers can run Ethereum smart contracts on the Avalanche network or build new ones using Solidity. Solidity-based decentralized applications can be easily added to and used within the Avalanche ecosystem.

4. BNB Chain (Formerly Binance Smart Chain)

BNB Chain, formerly known as the Binance Smart Chain, is a blockchain that works with EVM and supports Solidity. Developers can deploy and run smart contracts written in Solidity on the BNB Chain because it is compatible with Solidity. Existing Ethereum-based projects can be moved easily to the BNB Chain, and new decentralized applications can be built using Solidity.

Conclusion

To sum up, Solidity is a strong programming language for creating Ethereum blockchain smart contracts. It lets developers set the rules and logic for decentralized applications (dapps), making them more open, safe, and unchangeable. Like languages like C++, JavaScript, and Python, Solidity provides a familiar environment for developers with different backgrounds.

The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) supports the language and is widely used in the Ethereum ecosystem. This makes using smart contracts written in Solidity on multiple networks easier. Solidity plays a vital role in the growth and innovation of blockchain technology, enabling the development of decentralized applications and fostering the evolution of the decentralized web.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Where can I Program Solidity?

You can program Solidity on integrated development environments (IDEs) and text editors. Some popular options include Remix, Visual Studio Code with Solidity extensions, Truffle Suite, and Hardhat. These tools provide features such as code editing, compilation, debugging, and deployment of Solidity smart contracts.

2. What is the Solidity language?

To create smart contracts for the Ethereum blockchain, developers may use Solidity, a high-level, statically-typed programming language. It enables developers to define the behavior and rules of interactions within decentralized applications (dapps). Solidity shares similarities with languages like C++, JavaScript, and Python, making it accessible to developers with different programming backgrounds.

3. Is Solidity Enough for Blockchain?

Solidity is a fundamental tool for developing smart contracts on the blockchain, specifically the Ethereum blockchain. However, building a complete blockchain application typically requires additional components such as front-end development, back-end infrastructure, and integration with other technologies. Solidity is the programming language to define the contract logic, but other elements are needed to create a comprehensive blockchain application.