<p>To really understand this, you would need to <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script" rel="nofollow">read the protocol specs</a>.  But I'll describe it briefly.</p>

<p>Each transaction contains a script.  In order to claim the bitcoins from a transaction (e.g.: you want to spend them in a new transaction) you have to provide whatever proof is described by the script.  </p>

<p>Normally, the script is pretty much the same: the intended recipient has to provide a digital signature that proves they own the destination address.  But you can requires a lot of different kinds of proof: require more signatories, no proof at all, or require the claimant to solve a puzzle.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-30T07:23:04.730Z
2013-07-30T07:23:04.730Z
slashingweapon
<p>It has to do with this: <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/BIP_0016" rel="nofollow">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/BIP_0016</a>.
Instead of providing the necessary scriptSignature when sending coins, you can just provide the hash of the script, and let the redeemer provide the actual script upon spending.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-25T19:51:18.737Z
2013-12-25T19:51:18.737Z
JaeKwon
<p>The Bitcoin API call of <code>createmultisig</code> returns two parameters - <code>address</code> and <code>redeemScript</code>. What is the latter used for?</p>

<development><bitcoin-core><api><multi-signature>
Bitcoin API - createmultisig - what is redeemScript?
ThePiachu
# Bitcoin API - createmultisig - what is redeemScript?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-30)

The Bitcoin API call of `createmultisig` returns two parameters - `address` and `redeemScript`. What is the latter used for?

**Tags:** development, bitcoin-core, api, multi-signature


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-07-30. Score: 3

To really understand this, you would need to [read the protocol specs](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Script). But I'll describe it briefly.

Each transaction contains a script. In order to claim the bitcoins from a transaction (e.g.: you want to spend them in a new transaction) you have to provide whatever proof is described by the script.

Normally, the script is pretty much the same: the intended recipient has to provide a digital signature that proves they own the destination address. But you can requires a lot of different kinds of proof: require more signatories, no proof at all, or require the claimant to solve a puzzle.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-25. Score: 3

It has to do with this: <https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/BIP_0016>.
Instead of providing the necessary scriptSignature when sending coins, you can just provide the hash of the script, and let the redeemer provide the actual script upon spending.


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