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Glossary

Agent​

Hyperlane agents are off-chain actors that read and write Hyperlane smart contract state.

Example agents include Validators and the Relayer.

Aggregation ISM​

The Aggregation ISM is a type of interchain security module that aggregates security from many ISMs by requiring that m of n ISMs verify a particular interchain message.

Checkpoint​

A checkpoint is a (merkle root, index) tuple, corresponding to the state of the Mailbox incremental merkle tree at a particular point in time.

Checkpoints signatures by Validators are used in Multisig ISMs.

Collateral chain​

For a Warp Route, the chain on which the collateral token is deposited into the Warp Route.

Collateral token​

For a Warp Route, the token which is deposited on the collateral chain to create a wrapped token on a remote synthetic chain.

Default ISM​

The Interchain Security Module that will be used to verify inbound messages if the message recipient has not specified their own ISM.

Domain​

A unique identifier for a particular chain, used by the Hyperlane protocol to determine message origin and destination.

May be the same as the EVM chain ID, but isn't always. See domains for a list of known Hyperlane domain IDs.

Interchain accounts (ICA)​

A middleware smart contract that allows users to make interchain smart contract calls.

For example, DAOs can use interchain accounts to own contracts on remote chains.

See Interchain Accounts for more information.

Interchain gas paymaster​

A smart contract deployed by a Relayer that accepts payments on an origin chain for message delivery on destination chains.

See interchain gas payments for more information

Interchain queries (IQS)​

A middleware smart contract that allows users to make interchain view calls.

For example, smart contracts can use interchain queries to look up oracle exchange rates or token balances from a remote chain.

Interchain Security Module (ISM)​

Interchain Security Module (ISMs) are smart contracts that provide security to Hyperlane's interchain Mailbox.

ISMs are responsible for verifying that interchain messages being delivered on the destination chain were actually sent on the origin chain.

Mailbox​

Arguably the most important Hyperlane smart contract, the mailbox exposes an interface that developers can use to send and receive interchain messages.

Middleware​

A smart contract that sends and receives messages, and exposes a developer facing API. Developers are expected to use this API instead of interacting directly with the mailbox.

Example middlewares include interchain-accounts-ica and interchain-queries-iqs.

Multisig ISM​

The Multisig ISM is a type of Interchain Security Module that uses m of n Validator signatures in order to verify a particular interchain message.

Permissionless Interoperability​

Hyperlane can be deployed by anyone to any chain, whether it is a layer 1, rollup, or app-chain, allowing that chain to communicate seamlessly. The open design of the Hyperlane protocol is known as Permissionless Interoperability (PI). Chains deployed by instutitions other than the Hyperlane core team are referred to as 'PI chains'.

Relayer​

The Relayer is a Hyperlane agents responsible for delivering messages from their origin chain(s) to their destination chain(s).

Relayers are untrusted, and anyone can operate a relayer.

Routing ISM​

The Routing ISM is a type of Interchain Security Module that defers to a different ISM depending on the message being delivered.

For example, a Routing ISM could use a different ISM depending on the origin chain from which the message was sent.

Synthetic chain​

For a Warp Route, a chain on which wrapped tokens are minted. These wrapped tokens are backed by collateral tokens that have been locked on the collateral chain.

Validator​

Validators are a Hyperlane agents responsible for attesting to messages sent from an origin chain.

Multisig ISMs use validator signatures to provide security for inbound messages.

Warp Route​

Warp Routes are Hyperlane's take on the concept of token bridging, allowing you to permissionlessly transfer any ERC20-like asset to any chain via Hyperlane.

Read more about how to deploy a Warp Route.