<p>The apostrophes show whether or not that particular derivation is hardened. </p>

<p>The difference been hardened and non-hardened keys is described in BIP32.</p>

<p>See the wiki for some further detail. <a href="https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/hardened-extended-key" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/hardened-extended-key</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T03:24:57.047Z
2018-01-22T03:24:57.047Z
 mynt
<p>Can we please clarify if there is any difference (because apparently some technical documentation explicitly requests to include apostrophes) between a derivation from extended private key (xprv) or public key (xpub) of a child subkey, where m = root (xprv or xpub).</p>

<p><code>m/44/0/0/0</code> and  <code>m/44'/0'/0'/0</code></p>

<p>What are the meaning of the apostrophes and how / when should they be applied? Do they change anything in a derivation path -- will the derived child subkey be different with or without them?</p>

<bip32-hd-wallets><deterministic-wallets><bip44>
What is the meaning and application of the apostrophes in derivation paths of BIP32 / BIP44?
skydanc3r
# What is the meaning and application of the apostrophes in derivation paths of BIP32 / BIP44?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-22)

Can we please clarify if there is any difference (because apparently some technical documentation explicitly requests to include apostrophes) between a derivation from extended private key (xprv) or public key (xpub) of a child subkey, where m = root (xprv or xpub).

`m/44/0/0/0` and `m/44'/0'/0'/0`

What are the meaning of the apostrophes and how / when should they be applied? Do they change anything in a derivation path -- will the derived child subkey be different with or without them?

**Tags:** bip32-hd-wallets, deterministic-wallets, bip44


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-22. Score: 3

The apostrophes show whether or not that particular derivation is hardened.

The difference been hardened and non-hardened keys is described in BIP32.

See the wiki for some further detail. <https://bitcoin.org/en/glossary/hardened-extended-key>


---

