What does it receive?
Identify instructions, accounts, data formats, and the conditions expected by the program.
PROGRAMS AND CONTRACTS · 2026
Smart contracts as public program behavior
On Solana, the phrase smart contract is commonly used for deployed programs and the rules they apply to accounts and instructions. This guide explains how to inspect purpose, inputs, permissions, and deployment context without treating a label as a complete audit.
Four questions before reading code
What can it change?
Trace which accounts may be written, created, closed, or assigned during an instruction.
Who can authorize?
Permissions, signers, authorities, and upgrade settings determine important boundaries.
Program review overview
| Review area | Evidence to locate | Limit of the evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Program address and deployment record. | A familiar name does not prove ownership. |
| Instructions | Documented inputs and account constraints. | Documentation may lag deployed behavior. |
| Permissions | Authorities, signers, and upgrade configuration. | Settings can change over time. |
| History | Version, release, and public transaction history. | History is evidence, not a complete security review. |
A measured inspection process
- Record the network, program address, and observation date.
- Read available documentation before interpreting a raw instruction.
- List accounts touched by the instruction and their roles.
- Check signer requirements and authority configuration.
- Compare the deployed version with the version described in the source.
Scope note: Reading source material can explain intended behavior, but it is not the same as a formal security audit or a recommendation to interact with a program.
Related reading
Transactions
See how instructions appear within public records and why confirmation status matters.
Read transaction notesSecurity
Review boundaries around permissions, credentials, unfamiliar links, and requests.
Read security guidanceA practical distinction
“A program can be public without being simple. The responsible reader names what was inspected and what was not.”
Tralum uses cautious language because deployment, configuration, and interface behavior can change.