GlossaryAdvanced
Meta-Transaction
A transaction a user signs off-chain, which a separate relayer then submits and pays the gas fee for on the user's behalf.
A meta-transaction is a transaction a user signs off-chain — authorizing a specific action without directly broadcasting or paying for it themselves — which a separate relayer then submits to the network and pays the actual gas fee for on the user's behalf.
Meta-transactions are one of the underlying mechanisms that makes a gasless transaction (see Kaavon's "Gasless Transaction" glossary definition) possible: the user's off-chain signature proves their authorization, while the relayer handles the actual on-chain submission and fee payment.
Examples
- A user signs a meta-transaction off-chain, authorizing a specific action, while a separate relayer handles actually submitting it on-chain and paying the gas fee.
- Meta-transactions are one of the underlying technical mechanisms that makes gasless transactions possible for end users.