The Sui Network is a proof-of-stake blockchain that leverages transaction parallelization due to the Narwhal-Bullshark Consensus mechanism. This ensures low latency, high throughput, and fast finality.

Checkpoints

Sui has no blocks; however, each epoch contains checkpoints, which may be equivalent to blocks.

The blockchain's current status and parameters can be accessed on Suiscan homepage, Chain Info Parameter page, and Staking Parameter page.

Also, see Sui checkpoints here.

Transaction blocks

Transactions blocks implement real-life use cases like transferring fungible and non-fungible tokens, staking, swapping, NFT or coin mint, etc. Such operations may contain smaller atomic transactions that execute a particular function. For instance, a swap transaction block may include two transactions: the transfer of Denomination A coin from Account A to Account B and the transfet of Denomination B coin from Account B to Account A.

Suiscan keeps track of the most recent transaction blocks.

To learn about the transaction flow on Sui, read this article.

Gas Fees

Sui has a complex gas fee model. In a nutshell, a sender pays both for the computation efforts required for transaction execution and transaction storage. Since storage is not limitless, objects recorded in the storage as a result of transaction execution are deleted with time. As objects get deleted, senders get their storage fee back—a storage rebate. Read more about the Sui fee model here.

Storage

Sui has a flexible storage design that enables users to record and delete objects created as a result of running a transaction. Users pay only for the actually used storage space, which is perfectly optimized. Users get a storage rebate for all deleted objects from the storage fund. To learn more about the Sui storage fund, go here.

Cryptoghaphy

The Sui Network supports multiple signature schemes and hashing functions and employs an Elliptic Curve Verifiable Random Function (ECVRF). To learn more about cryptographic functions on Sui, go here.

TPS and High Scalability

By using the Narwhal and Bullshark Consensus mechanism paired with transaction parallelization due to the DAG data structure, Sui has achieved a lightning-fast transaction speed, making the Sui Network one of the most scalable and well-performing blockchains. The highest on-chain throughput was once recorded at 150000 TPS.

More on transaction execution is to be found here.

Object Model

Unlike many other blockchains, where data is built around accounts, and this way is stored on-chain, the basic unit of storage in Sui is the object, which makes it akin to an object-oriented programming language. All entities (staking amount, payment amount, package, NFT, liquidity pool, etc.) are objects whose states are recorded in the storage. As objects get deleted, they are removed from the storage, which frees space for new objects. Conversely, accounts are not objects but entities that can create, receive, hold, and delete objects.

Read more about the object model on Sui here.

Coins

SUI is the native coin of the Sui Network. However, Sui supports minting, burning, and transferring other coins that meet the SUI coin standard (equivalent to the ERC-20 standard). A coin of a particular denomination can be minted via a package deployed on-chain. Such coins can be transferred from one account to another. However, only the Sui coin can be used for staking.

To learn more about SUI coins, read this.

We show coins on Suiscan.

Wallet Standard

The Sui Wallet Standard regulates the operation of browser extension wallets built for Sui. This cross-chain standard defines how dApps can automatically detect and interact with wallets on Sui.

Read about the Wallet Standard here. Find the code here.

Kiosk

Kiosk is a decentralized system for commerce applications on Sui. It consists of Kiosks (stores) - shared objects owned by individual parties that store assets and allow listing them for sale. This enables the creation of auctions. While being highly decentralized, Kiosk provides a set of strong guarantees:

• Kiosk owners retain ownership of their assets to the moment of purchase.
• Creators set custom policies - rules applied to every trade (such as paying a royalty, a fee, or doing some arbitrary action).
• Marketplaces can index events the Kiosk emits and subscribe to a single feed for on-chain asset trading.

Read more about Kiosk here and here.

DeepBook

DeepBook is Sui’s native order book and is part of the Sui Protocol. It is the first native liquidity layer on Sui that offers built-in trading functionality that can support token trades from decentralized exchanges, wallets, or other apps.

DeepBook allows to:

• make a bid
• make an ask
• set a limit order
• swap coins

Read more about DeepBook here and here.

NFTs and Collections

NFTs (equivalents to ERC-721 tokens on Sui) are non-fungible tokens, i.e., tokens with unique attributes. An NFT object must contain a link to the projects, an image, and attributes. Several NFTs that share the same set of attributes but have different values for those attributes constitute a collection. NFTs are traded at marketplaces.

View Sui NFTs , Collections, and Marketplaces on Suiscan.

Domain Names

Domain Names are NFTs on Sui. They are minted through name service projects and constitute a unique name. Such objects can be used to construct company identity in Web3.

SuiNS is a leading domain name service backed by Mysten Labs.

Read more about SuiNS domains on Suiscan.
Suiscan indexes and shows domain name NFTs available on Sui.

Packages

Packages are smart contracts on Sui written on Move. They contain code that executes custom logic and allows the building of various dApps. For example, if a DEX wants to operate on Sui, it has to deploy a package on-chain. Anybody can view and examine the code contained in a package, which adds to the transparency and decentralization of the Sui Network.

See a list of Sui packages here.

Modules

Modules are functional parts of packages responsible for a particular finite use case executed by one or multiple transaction blocks. Each module has a name that's unique within the containing package. The combination of the package's on-chain ID and the name of a module uniquely identifies the module. For example, the Swap module can implement the logic of swapping coin X for coin Y in a DEX package.

Monitoring modules on Sui are available here. We show transaction blocks here.

Functions

Functions are pieces of code that implement a more atomic logic within modules executed by single transactions. For example, the Send function can be part of the Swap module of a DEX package implementing the first part of a swap transaction - sending coin X.

See Sui functions here.

DEFIs

The Sui Network's high programmability is why dApps are thriving on Sui. We index various data concerning DEFIs: DEX, games, social networks, launchpads, bridges, oracles, marketplaces, etc.

We collect data about DeFis on Sui and list them on Suiscan. Among those are also liquidity pools and AMM/DEX.

Sui SDK - dApp Kit

The Sui dApp Kit is a set of React components, hooks, and utilities to help you build a dApp for the Sui ecosystem. Its hooks and components provide an interface for querying data from the Sui blockchain and connecting to Sui wallets.

Find Sui SDK docs here.

Sui CLI

Sui provides a command-line interface (CLI) tool for interacting with the Sui network, its features, and the Move programming language.

Find Sui CLI docs here.