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+---
+title: Sui Glossary
+---
+
+Find terms used in Sui defined below. Where possible, we link to a canonical definition and focus upon Sui’s use of the term.
+
+
+### Accumulator
+
+An [accumulator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accumulator_(cryptography)) makes sure the transaction is received by a quorum of authorities,
+collects a quorum of votes, submits the certificate to the authorities, and replies to the client. The accumulator enables transactions to be
+certified. Sui offers a Gateway service that can assume the role of accumulator and collect votes on transactions from authorities in Sui,
+saving end users bandwidth.
+
+
+### Authority
+
+An authority in Sui plays a passive role analogous to the more active role of validators and minors in other blockchains. In Sui,
+authorities do not continuously participate in the consensus protocol but are called into action only when receiving a transaction or
+certificate.
+
+For more information, see [Authorities vs validators/miners](how-sui-works.md#authorities-vs-validators-miners).
+
+
+### Causal order
+
+[Causal order](https://www.scattered-thoughts.net/writing/causal-ordering/) is a representation of the relationship between transactions
+and the objects they produce, laid out as dependencies. Authorities cannot execute a transaction dependent on object created by a prior
+transaction that has not finished. Rather than total order, Sui uses causal order.
+
+For more information, see [Causal order vs total order](how-sui-works.md#causal-order-vs-total-order). 
+
+
+### Certificate
+
+A certificate is the mechanism proving a transaction has been approved, or certified. Authorities vote on transactions, and the sender collects
+a Byzantine-resistant-majority of these votes into a certificate and broadcasts it to all Sui authorities, thereby ensuring finality.
+
+
+### Equivocation
+
+Equivocation in blockchains is the malicious action of dishonest actors giving conflicting information, such as inconsistent or duplicate voting.
+
+
+### Epoch
+
+Operation of the Sui network is temporally partitioned into non-overlapping, fixed-duration (e.g. 24-hour) *epochs*. During a particular epoch, the set of authorities participating in the network is fixed.
+
+For more information, see [Epochs](../build/authorities.md#epochs).
+
+
+### Eventual consistency
+
+[Eventual consistency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eventual_consistency) is the consensus model employed by Sui; if one honest authority
+certifies the transaction, all of the other honest authorities will too eventually.
+
+
+### Family history
+
+Family history is the relationship between an object in Sui and its direct predecessors and successors. This history is essential to the causal
+order Sui uses to process transactions. In contrast, other blockchains attempt to read the entire state of their world for each transaction,
+introducing great latency.
+
+
+### Finality
+
+[Finality](https://medium.com/mechanism-labs/finality-in-blockchain-consensus-d1f83c120a9a) is the assurance a transaction will not be revoked. This
+stage is considered closure for an exchange or other blockchain transaction.
+
+
+### Gas
+
+As with other blockchains, [gas](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gas-ethereum.asp) in Sui is the currency for the cost of conducting a transaction.
+
+
+### Genesis
+
+Genesis is the initial act of creating accounts and gas objects. Sui provides a `genesis` command that 
+
+For more information, see [Genesis](../build/wallet.md#genesis).
+
+
+### Gateway service
+
+Sui provides a Gateway service that enables third parties, say app/game developers, to route transactions on behalf of users. Because Sui never requires
+exchange of private keys, third parties may offload bandwidth use from mobile device to server - for a fee.
+
+
+### Multi-writer objects
+
+Multi-writer objects are those owned by more than one account. Transactions affecting multi-writer objects require consensus in Sui. This contrasts with
+those affecting only single-writer objects, which require only a confirmation of the owner’s account.
+
+
+### Proof-of-stake
+
+[Proof-of-stake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_stake) is a blockchain consensus mechanism where the voting weights of authorities or validators is
+proportional to their stake in the network. This mitigates attacks by forcing bad actors to gain a large stake in the blockchain first. 
+
+
+### Smart contract
+
+A [smart contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_contract) is an agreement based upon the protocol for conducting transactions in a blockchain. In Sui,
+smart contracts are written in the [Move](https://github.com/MystenLabs/awesome-move) programming language.
+
+
+### Single-writer objects
+
+Single-writer objects are owned by one account. In Sui, transactions affecting only single-writer objects owned by the same account may proceed with only a
+check of the sender’s account, greatly speeding transaction times.
+
+
+### Total order
+
+Total order is the view of the entire state of a blockchain at any given time. This is used by many blockchain systems to certify transactions. In contrast,
+Sui uses causal order.
+
+For more information, see [Causal order vs total order](how-sui-works.md#causal-order-vs-total-order). 
+
+
+### Transfer
+
+A transfer is switching the owner address of a token to a new one via command in Sui. This is accomplished via the
+[Sui Wallet](../build/wallet.md) command line interface. It is one of the more common of many commands
+available in the wallet.
+
+For more information, see [Transferring objects](../build/wallet.md#transferring-objects).