This mode allows a contract to be created on the blockchain via a single transaction message.
Transaction execution: This mode entails the execution of modules of smart contract code that represent business logic.
From Initiation to Immutable Confirmation (Part 2)
Querying: This mode is concerned with simply probing the contract for data and is executed locally on the nodes for performance reason.
Pact uses LISP-like syntax and represents in the code exactly what will be executed on the blockchain, as it is stored on the blockchain in human-readable format.
This is in contrast to Ethereum’s EVM, which compiles into bytecode for execution, which makes it difficult to verify what code is in execution on the blockchain.
Moreover, it is Turing incomplete, supports immutable variables, and does not allow null values, which improves the overall safety of the transaction code execution.
This example shows a simple addition module that defines a function named addition that takes three parameters.
When the code is executed it adds all three values and displays the result.
Why This Matters for Blockchain Technology
The following example has been developed using the online Pact compiler
Sample Pact code When the code is run, it produces the output shown as follows: The output of the code
Kadena is a new class of blockchains introducing the novel concept of pervasive determinism where, in addition to standard public/private key-based data origin security, an additional layer of fully deterministic consensus is also provided.
It provides cryptographic security at all layers of the blockchain including transactions and consensus layer.
Key Points to Remember
- Contract definition: This mode allows a contract to be created on the blockchain via a single transaction message.
- Transaction execution: This mode entails the execution of modules of smart contract code that represent business logic.
- Querying: This mode is concerned with simply probing the contract for data and is executed locally on the nodes for performance reason.
- Pact uses LISP-like syntax and represents in the code exactly what will be executed on the blockchain, as it is stored on the blockchain in human-readable format.
Going Deeper: Advanced Concepts
Relevant documentation and source code for Pact can be found here https://github.com/kadena-io/pact.
Kadena has also introduced a public blockchain in January, 2018 which is another leap forward in building blockchains with massive throughput.
The novel idea in this proposal is to build a PoW parallel chain
Conclusion
Contract definition represents one of the many innovative layers that make blockchain technology so powerful and transformative. As distributed systems continue to evolve, a solid understanding of these core concepts becomes increasingly valuable — not just for developers, but for anyone building, investing in, or working alongside blockchain-powered systems.
Whether you are just starting your blockchain journey or deepening existing expertise, mastering these fundamentals gives you the tools to think clearly about decentralized systems and make smarter decisions in this rapidly evolving space.