midnight-core-concepts:smart-contracts

Midnight smart contracts leverage the Impact VM to execute contract state machines and generate zero-knowledge proofs. This architecture allows developers to design private contract workflows by tracing transaction proof flows end-to-end while reasoning about contract execution semantics.

The Compact language is used to write Midnight smart contracts. Developers use it to define contract state machines, establish public and private state, and create entry points that interact with the Impact VM for secure zero-knowledge transaction execution.

You write a simple Compact contract by defining its state and entry points, including circuit and witness components. Deployment involves packaging the contract for the Impact VM, allowing the Midnight network to process its zero-knowledge proof verification flow.

Public state in Midnight smart contracts is visible and verifiable by the network, while private state remains confidential. The Impact VM manages both states using zero-knowledge proofs, enabling developers to design private transfer contracts where sensitive transaction data is protected.

Entry points in Midnight smart contracts consist of circuit and witness components that define the zero-knowledge proof logic. The Impact VM processes these entry points to validate contract state transitions, ensuring transaction execution remains private and verifiable.

Yes, you can trace a transaction's zero-knowledge proof flow end-to-end on the Impact VM. This allows developers to verify private transfer contract workflows, ensuring that Midnight smart contract state transitions are executed and validated correctly.