Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level language for implementing smart contracts.Smart contracts are programs that govern the behavior of accounts within the Ethereum state.
Solidity is a curly-bracket language designed to target the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).It is influenced by C++, Python, and JavaScript.You can find more details about which languages Solidity has been inspired by in the language influences section.
Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, libraries, and complex user-defined types, among other features.
With Solidity, you can create contracts for uses such as voting, crowdfunding, blind auctions, and multi-signature wallets.
When deploying contracts, you should use the latest released version of Solidity.Apart from exceptional cases, only the latest version receivessecurity fixes.Furthermore, breaking changes, as well as new features, are introduced regularly.We currently use a 0.y.z version number to indicate this fast pace of change.
Warning
Solidity recently released the 0.8.x version that introduced a lot of breaking changes.Make sure you read the full list.
Ideas for improving Solidity or this documentation are always welcome,read our contributors guide for more details.
Hint
You can download this documentation as PDF, HTML or Epubby clicking on the versions flyout menu in the bottom-left corner and selecting the preferred download format.
Getting Started
1. Understand the Smart Contract Basics
If you are new to the concept of smart contracts, we recommend you to get started by digging into the “Introduction to Smart Contracts” section, which covers the following:
2. Get to Know Solidity
Once you are accustomed to the basics, we recommend you read the “Solidity by Example”and “Language Description” sections to understand the core concepts of the language.
3. Install the Solidity Compiler
There are various ways to install the Solidity compiler,simply choose your preferred option and follow the steps outlined on the installation page.
Hint
You can try out code examples directly in your browser with theRemix IDE.Remix is a web browser-based IDE that allows you to write, deploy and administer Solidity smart contracts,without the need to install Solidity locally.
Warning
As humans write software, it can have bugs.Therefore, you should follow established software development best practices when writing your smart contracts.This includes code review, testing, audits, and correctness proofs.Smart contract users are sometimes more confident with code than their authors,and blockchains and smart contracts have their own unique issues to watch out for,so before working on production code, make sure you read the Security Considerations section.
4. Learn More
If you want to learn more about building decentralized applications on Ethereum,the Ethereum Developer Resources can help you with further general documentation around Ethereum,and a wide selection of tutorials, tools, and development frameworks.
If you have any questions, you can try searching for answers or asking on theEthereum StackExchange,or our Gitter channel.
Translations
Community contributors help translate this documentation into several languages.Note that they have varying degrees of completeness and up-to-dateness.The English version stands as a reference.
You can switch between languages by clicking on the flyout menu in the bottom-left cornerand selecting the preferred language.
Note
We set up a GitHub organization and translation workflow to help streamline the community efforts.Please refer to the translation guide in the solidity-docs orgfor information on how to start a new language or contribute to the community translations.
FAQs
Professionals with experience in programming concepts and coding languages can usually learn Solidity in 1-6 months. If you have no programming experience, it may take longer. Beginners can take advantage of platforms like CryptoZombies or other free online courses to build a foundation for advanced classes.
Is Solidity low level? ›
Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level language for implementing smart contracts. Smart contracts are programs that govern the behavior of accounts within the Ethereum state.
How difficult is Solidity? ›
Solidity isn't a walk in the park by any means. In fact, it's probably one of the most challenging programming languages to implement and master out there. Yes, learning it is easy and many programmers can learn it in days, if not weeks.
Is Solidity high-level? ›
Proposed in 2014, Solidity is an object-oriented, high-level programming language for implementing smart contracts that run on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
What is the average salary for Solidity? ›
Average Yearly Salary Breakdown 📊
As of February 2024, the average yearly salary for a Solidity Developer stands at a robust $130,000.
Can I get a job if I learn Solidity? ›
The salary for Solidity developers varies depending on experience, location, and company. However, you can expect to earn a good salary if you have the skills and experience to develop Solidity smart contracts.
Is Solidity still in demand? ›
Solidity developers are in high demand, and as a result, their salaries are on the rise.
Is Solidity easier than Python? ›
Solidity may be considered harder than Python for beginners due to its unique features and the need to understand blockchain technology. However, experienced programmers might find it easier to pick up.
Is it still worth it to learn Solidity? ›
YES. The main programming language for building smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain is Solidity. Crypto, NFT, and Defi enthusiasts should learn this programming language. One of the key elements of the Solidity Ethereum connection is the contract-oriented nature of the this programming language.
Is Solidity worth learning in 2024? ›
For developers looking to jump into Web3 without knowing which blockchain they want to build on or which language they want to learn, Solidity and Vyper are the best languages for exploring how smart contracts work and what kind of developer tooling to look out for.
Supply and Demand Dynamics: There is currently a shortage of skilled Solidity developers in the market. This imbalance between supply and demand has led to higher salaries and greater job opportunities for Solidity developers.
How much do Solidity engineers make? ›
$105,000 is the 25th percentile. Salaries below this are outliers. $135,500 is the 75th percentile.
Is Solidity enough for blockchain? ›
Move and Solidity are both perfect languages for blockchain development but both of them have certain features. Solidity, Ethereum's flagship language, is contract-oriented, widely adopted, and has a JavaScript-like syntax, making it accessible to many developers.
How many developers use Solidity? ›
Developer Profiles
A majority of 48.9% of the participants use Solidity both at work and for personal projects. The rest of the respondents are almost equally distributed between using Solidity at work or using Solidity for personal projects.
Is Solidity backend or frontend? ›
Is Solidity frontend or backend? Solidity is a backend language. The reason why blockchain platforms need a different backend language with specific features is that the front end is similar for both centralized and decentralized applications.
Is Solidity easier than JavaScript? ›
One of the reasons why Solidity is easy to learn is its similarity to other programming languages. If you have experience with JavaScript or C++, you will find the syntax of Solidity quite familiar. Solidity code is also easy to read and understand, thanks to its clear and concise syntax.
Can a beginner learn Solidity? ›
If you're a self-starter and want to learn at your own pace, tutorials are a great way to learn Solidity. There are many high-quality Solidity tutorials available online, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
