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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +sidebar_position: 1 |
| 3 | +--- |
| 4 | + |
| 5 | +# Glossary |
| 6 | + |
| 7 | +Here is a comprehensive list of definitions for some common terms used in this guide. |
| 8 | + |
| 9 | +## Beacon |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | +A **Beacon** represents a point of the Blockchain for which a [**Mithril Certificate**](#certificate) is created. It embeds at least the version of the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network) that is targeted, and the associated [**epoch**](#epoch) and [**immutable file number**](#immutable-file-number). |
| 12 | + |
| 13 | +## Cardano Network |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +The **Cardano Network** is a **Proof-of-Stake** Blockchain platform that supports the ADA cryptocurrency. |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +> More information is available [here](https://docs.cardano.org/introduction) |
| 18 | +
|
| 19 | +## Cardano Node |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +A **Cardano Node** is a node that runs in a [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network). There are several types of nodes, among them are **Cardano Full Nodes** that hold a copy of the whole Blockchain. They can be used by **Wallets**, [**Stake Pool Operator**](#stake-pool-operator-spo), **Exchanges** or **Dapps**. One of the use cases of the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network) is to bootsrap rapidly a **Cardano Full Node**. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +## Cardano Key Pair |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | +A **Cardano Key Pair** is an asymmetric key pair used to identify a [**Stake Pool Operator**](#stake-pool-operator-spo) on the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network). |
| 26 | + |
| 27 | +## Certificate |
| 28 | + |
| 29 | +The **Mithril Aggregator** combines the produced [**multi signature**](#multi-signature) and some metadata into a [**Mithril Certificate**](#certificate) that will be later used by the [**Mithril Client**](#mithril-client) to verify the authenticity of a [**snapshot**](#snapshot). The certificates are chained so that the [**stake distribution**](#stake-distribution) used to create the signatures is verifiably genuine. |
| 30 | + |
| 31 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-protocol/certificates.md) |
| 32 | +
|
| 33 | +## Epoch |
| 34 | + |
| 35 | +The [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network) uses **Epochs** to group blocks computed in a certain amount of time (approximately 5 days). It is part of the design of its **Proof-of-Stake** consensus **Ouroboros**. At the end of each epoch, the [**stake distribution**](#stake-distribution) of the ending epoch is computed. |
| 36 | + |
| 37 | +## Immutable File Number |
| 38 | + |
| 39 | +Inside a the database of a [**Cardano Node**](#cardano-node), the Blockchain state is stored in **Immutable files** which never change once committed. These immutable files are designed so that they are deterministically produced and thus are the same on any **Cardano Node**. These files are created by following an incremental number, the **Immutable File Number** and there are three different immutable files for each number (i.e. _chunk_, _primary_ and _secondary_). Only the files up to the penultimate **Immutable File Number** are considered as committed and final, the last **Immutable File Number** files are constantly evolving. The [**Snapshots**](#snapshot) produced by the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network) rely on these **immutable files**. |
| 40 | + |
| 41 | +## Individual Signature |
| 42 | + |
| 43 | +For each [**Beacon**](#beacon), the [**Mithril Signers**](#mithril-signer) will compute on their end a message representing the Blockchain state, and sign it with their **Verification Keys** in order to create an [**Individual Signature**](#individual-signature). Upon winning one or multiple lotteries, the **Mithril Signer** will be able to use this **Individual Signature** to participate in the creation of a [**Multi Signature**](#multi-signature). |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-protocol/protocol.md) |
| 46 | +
|
| 47 | +## Mithril Aggregator |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | +The **Mithril Aggregator** is a trustless node of the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network) that orchestrates the work of the [**Mithril Signer**](#mithril-signer) nodes and that gathers their [**individual signatures**](#individual-signature) to produce [**Mithril multi signatures**](#multi-signature) and their associated [**certificates**](#certificate). |
| 50 | + |
| 51 | +It is also in charge of creating and storing the [**snapshot**](#snapshot) archive. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-network/aggregator.md) |
| 54 | +
|
| 55 | +## Mithril Client |
| 56 | + |
| 57 | +The **Mithril Client** node of the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network) is used to restore a [**Cardano full node**](#cardano-node) by retrieving, from a [**Mithril Aggregator**](#mithril-aggregator), a remote [**snapshot**](#snapshot), its [**certificate**](#certificate) chain and by verifying their validity thanks to the Mithril cryptographic primitives. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-network/client.md) |
| 60 | +
|
| 61 | +## Mithril Network |
| 62 | + |
| 63 | +In its current version, the **Mithril Network** is a network of nodes responsible for creating [**Snapshots**](#snapshot) and [**Certificates**](#certificate) that enable fast bootstrap of a [**Cardano Node**](#cardano-node). It runs on top of the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network). |
| 64 | + |
| 65 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-network/architecture.md) |
| 66 | +
|
| 67 | +## Mithril Protocol |
| 68 | + |
| 69 | +The **Mithril Protocol** allows **stakeholders** in a **Proof-of-Stake** Blockchain network to individually **sign messages** that are aggregated into a **multi signature** which guarantees that they represent a minimum share of the total stakes. |
| 70 | + |
| 71 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-protocol/protocol.md) |
| 72 | +
|
| 73 | +## Mithril Signer |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +The **Mithril Signer** is a node of the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network) that works transparently on top of the [**Stake Pool Operator**](#stake-pool-operator-spo) Cardano nodes and which individually signs the ledger state. |
| 76 | + |
| 77 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-network/signer.md) |
| 78 | +
|
| 79 | +## Multi Signature |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +The **Mithril Multi Signature** is an aggregate of [**Individual Signatures**](#individual-signature) which guarantees that a minimum share of the total stakes has participated in its creation. |
| 82 | + |
| 83 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-protocol/protocol.md) |
| 84 | +
|
| 85 | +## Snapshot |
| 86 | + |
| 87 | +A Mithril Snapshot is a signed archive of the Blockchain state that can be used by [**Mithril Clients**](#mithril-client) to restore a [**Cardano Full Node**](#cardano-node). It is uniquely identified by its fingerprint or **Digest** which is part of the message signed by the [**Mithril Network**](#mithril-network). |
| 88 | + |
| 89 | +## Stake Distribution |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | +The **Cardano Stake Distribution** is the list of all the [**Stake Pool Operators**](#stake-pool-operator-spo) **Pool Id** addresses and their associated **Stakes Share** of the total **Stakes** of the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network). |
| 92 | + |
| 93 | +The **Mithril Stake Distribution** is the list of all the [**Stake Pool Operators**](#stake-pool-operator-spo) (that are running a [**Mithril Signer**](#mithril-signer)) **Pool Id** addresses, their associated **Stakes Share** of the total **Stakes** of the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network), and their signing [**Verification Key**](#verification-key). |
| 94 | + |
| 95 | +## Stake Pool Operator (SPO) |
| 96 | + |
| 97 | +A **Stake Pool Operator**, also known as a **SPO**, represents a party that holds (via delegation) **Stakes** in the [**Cardano Network**](#cardano-network). The stakes entitle it to participate in the block production thanks to the Cardano consensus mechanism. |
| 98 | + |
| 99 | +## Verification Key |
| 100 | + |
| 101 | +In order to create [**Individual Signatures**](#individual-signature), the [**Mithril Signers**](#mithril-signer) must register their signing public key: the **Verification Keys**. To garantee their genuineness, they are signed by the associated [**Cardano Key Pair**](#cardano-key-pair). It is worth mentioning that a [**Mithril Signer**](#mithril-signer) must be aware of the **Verification Keys** of all the other **Mithril Signers** in order to produce valid **Individual Signatures**. |
| 102 | + |
| 103 | +> More information is available [here](./mithril/mithril-protocol/protocol.md) |
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