Clear DefinitionsWallet Import Format
1 min read
Pronunciation
[woll-it im-port fawrm-at]
Analogy
WIF is like encoding a safe combination in a special string you can type into another safe to recover access.
Definition
A Base58Check‑encoded representation of a private key with version byte, used to import/export keys in Bitcoin wallets.
Key Points Intro
WIF standardizes key interchange via:
Key Points
Version byte: Indicates network (mainnet/testnet).
Checksum: Detects typos in encoded string.
Compression flag: Encodes whether pubkey is compressed.
Base58Check: Human‑friendly alphabet excluding ambiguous chars.
Example
A Bitcoin private key 0x1E99423A… encoded in WIF becomes “5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDu…” for import into Electrum.
Technical Deep Dive
WIF = Base58Check(version || privKey || (0x01 if compressed) || checksum). Checksum = first 4 bytes of double SHA256 of preceding data.
Security Warning
WIF exposes raw private key; handle with extreme care and avoid pasting into untrusted environments.
Caveat
WIF is specific to Bitcoin‑style keys; not used for HD seeds.
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