<p>Using &quot;hashed&quot; makes it sound like the contract itself is hashed. Because the contract <em>uses</em> a hash, but is not itself hashed, I would say the H should stand for &quot;hash&quot;.</p>
<p>Secondly, because &quot;locked&quot; applies to both the hash and the time components, I'd say it should be a separate word, rather than &quot;timelocked&quot;.</p>
<p>Technically, initialisms can omit minor words like conjunctions (there is no standard either way, to the best of my knowledge), so while I haven't seen it used, a sensible meaning could be &quot;Hash and Time Locked Contract.&quot; That's my two cents.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-05T00:26:29.433Z
2022-02-05T00:26:29.433Z
meshcollider
<p>An HTLC is a contract making use of both a hashlock and a timelock. I noticed a discrepancy in what various sources state the abbreviation HTLC is short for. I've found:</p>
<ul>
<li>&quot;Hashed Timelock Contract&quot; according to the <a href="https://lightning.network/lightning-network-paper.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lightning Network Paper</a></li>
<li>&quot;Hashed Time Locked Contract&quot; according to <a href="https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lightning-rfc/blob/master/00-introduction.md#HTLC-Hashed-Time-Locked-Contract" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BOLT #0</a></li>
<li>&quot;Hash Time Locked Contract&quot; according to the corresponding <a href="https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/htlc/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Bitcoin Optech topic page</a></li>
</ul>
<p>What makes the most sense to be the canonical term? Please add supporting evidence.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-25T03:47:41.393Z
I hate to say it, but given that you've yourself shown evidence of multiple distinct abbreviations being used in fairly high-profile contexts, I think there is no objective answer to that it stands for, and this is an opinion-based question...
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-04T19:45:11.407Z
I'm hoping for some bitcoin-inclined linguists to provide their expertise on this matter. :)
Murch
<terminology><hash-time-locked-contract>
What does the abbreviation "HTLC" stand for?
Murch
# What does the abbreviation "HTLC" stand for?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-24)

An HTLC is a contract making use of both a hashlock and a timelock. I noticed a discrepancy in what various sources state the abbreviation HTLC is short for. I've found:

* "Hashed Timelock Contract" according to the [Lightning Network Paper](https://lightning.network/lightning-network-paper.pdf)
* "Hashed Time Locked Contract" according to [BOLT #0](https://github.com/lightningnetwork/lightning-rfc/blob/master/00-introduction.md#HTLC-Hashed-Time-Locked-Contract)
* "Hash Time Locked Contract" according to the corresponding [Bitcoin Optech topic page](https://bitcoinops.org/en/topics/htlc/)

What makes the most sense to be the canonical term? Please add supporting evidence.

**Tags:** terminology, hash-time-locked-contract

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I hate to say it, but given that you've yourself shown evidence of multiple distinct abbreviations being used in fairly high-profile contexts, I think there is no objective answer to that it stands for, and this is an opinion-based question...  
> **username_0**: I'm hoping for some bitcoin-inclined linguists to provide their expertise on this matter. :)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-02-05. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Using "hashed" makes it sound like the contract itself is hashed. Because the contract *uses* a hash, but is not itself hashed, I would say the H should stand for "hash".

Secondly, because "locked" applies to both the hash and the time components, I'd say it should be a separate word, rather than "timelocked".

Technically, initialisms can omit minor words like conjunctions (there is no standard either way, to the best of my knowledge), so while I haven't seen it used, a sensible meaning could be "Hash and Time Locked Contract." That's my two cents.


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