> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.webln.guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.webln.guide/contribute/glossary.md).

# Glossary

**Lightning network**: The Lightning Network extends Bitcoin with payment channels to increase transaction speed and lower costs. It is becoming widely adopted and accepted as the preferred way to scale Bitcoin.

**Payment**: A payment is a transaction that occurs over the Lightning network. Payments are routed through Lightning payment channels and are not recorded in the Bitcoin blockchain.

**Transaction**: A transaction is a transfer of value over the Bitcoin network. While transactions can be complicated, one of the simplest forms of a transaction would be sending bitcoin from one address to another. A transaction is not considered final until it has been included in a valid block by a miner.

**Web3.js**: [web3.js](https://www.npmjs.com/package/web3) is a collection of libraries that allow you to interact with a local or remote ethereum node using HTTP, IPC or WebSocket.

**WebLN provider**: Providers are classes that implement the interface provided in [WebLN Reference](/building-lightning-apps/webln-reference.md)


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