Clear DefinitionsIBC Channel
1 min read
Pronunciation
[I-B-C chann-uhl]
Analogy
Like a dedicated freight rail link between two countries for shipping containers in both directions.
Definition
A bi‑directional communication conduit between two IBC‑enabled blockchains, maintaining ordered or unordered packet delivery semantics.
Key Points Intro
IBC channels carry packets of data and tokens reliably between chains.
Key Points
Ordered vs unordered: Guarantees sequence or allows out‑of‑order.
Channel handshake: Four‑step open protocol between chains.
Packet lifecycle: Send, receive, acknowledge, timeout.
Fee escrow: Optional fee mechanism for relayers.
Example
Chain A opens an IBC channel to Chain B for token transfers; relayers submit `RecvPacket` and `Acknowledgement` transactions to each chain.
Technical Deep Dive
Channels live in the `ibc.channel` module state; handshake uses `ChanOpenInit`, `ChanOpenTry`, `ChanOpenAck`, `ChanOpenConfirm`. Packets include `sequence`, `sourcePort`, `destPort`, and Merkle proofs for verification.
Security Warning
Stale channels can lock tokens; monitor timeouts and channel state.
Caveat
Each channel has separate sequencing; cross‑channel transfers require coordination.
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