Arc 3 Catch-Up: Solana Transactions Explained for Web2 Developers

Short summary

Arc 3 teaches Solana transactions by comparing them to HTTP requests but with critical differences: cryptographically signed before sending, valid only within a brief window, and atomic. A transaction contains accounts, instructions, and signatures; understanding its structure through a simple SOL transfer is the foundation for all blockchain development.

• •Solana transactions are signed messages that change on-chain state, with a brief validity window enforced by recent blockhash
• •Unlike HTTP requests, transactions are authorized before sending, include account ordering that determines signer/writable status, and succeed or fail atomically
• •A SOL transfer demonstrates the full pattern: fee payer, accounts, amount, instruction, signature, and confirmation—essential for more complex operations

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