How does Aptos process transactions and track them
Aptos uses Block-STM to run transactions in parallel, then validates the results. You sign in a wallet, pay gas in APT, and track the hash in an explorer.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 6, 20263 min readFact-checked
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This guide follows an Aptos transaction from signing in a wallet to checking its status. You need an Aptos wallet and some APT for gas.
What makes Aptos processing fast?
Aptos uses Block-STM to run independent transactions at the same time, then validates the results. If two transactions touch the same data, the network re-runs the conflicting one. Transactions that depend on each other still wait in order, so not every transaction runs in parallel.
How do you send an Aptos transaction?
You send an Aptos transaction by signing it in a wallet and paying gas in APT. Each account has a sequence number, so the network can put your transactions in order and block an old one from being replayed. The steps follow the order you should use.
- 1Check the detailsConfirm the recipient address, amount, and network before you sign. A confirmed transaction cannot be reversed, and a signed transaction that is not confirmed may expire or be dropped.
- 2Hold APT for gasGas is paid in APT, and the amount must cover execution. If execution starts and runs out of gas, the transaction can fail and still cost gas.
- 3Sign in your walletYour private key signs the transaction and proves it came from your account. The wallet fills in your account's next sequence number.
- 4Submit the transactionYour wallet sends the signed transaction to an Aptos fullnode, which forwards it to validators. The sequence number keeps your account's transactions in order and stops an old one from being replayed.
What should you do afterward?
After you send, your wallet shows a transaction hash. Paste the hash into an Aptos explorer to track the status. Finality comes after validators agree on the block, not when the hash first appears. A transaction that fails during execution can still cost gas. Causes include a gas amount that is too low, a sequence number that does not match, or an invalid signature; transactions rejected before execution do not run.
Frequently asked questions
Block-STM is Aptos's parallel execution method. It runs independent transactions at the same time, then checks for conflicts and re-runs any that conflict. It is not consensus or a wallet feature.
Confirmation time depends on network traffic and how quickly validators agree on the block. Check an Aptos explorer for the final status.
No. Once you submit a signed transaction, you cannot cancel it directly. If it is not included before its expiration time, the network drops it, and you can send a new one.
A transaction hash is the string that identifies your transaction. Your wallet shows it after you send, and you can paste it into an Aptos explorer to check the status.
