Electrum "description" field when sending BTCs for internal use only?

[pxstein]

When I send BTCs to another address and enter something into the "Description" entry field in "Send" tab: is this text send as well to the recipient or for internal use only?

In case it is accompanying the transfer: Every letter counts as one byte regarding the fee. Correct?

In case it is for internal use only: Is there another way to pass some small additional info text ?

Peter

[pooya87]

- no that description string is only stored locally inside your wallet file and only you can see it when opening your wallet file. in case you recovered your coins using seed and created a new wallet all the descriptions will be lost.
so no they don't affect the size of your transaction and fees you pay.

- you can include some data in your transactions using the OP_Return code which is limited to 40 bytes
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/OP_RETURN
https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/29554/explanation-of-what-an-op-return-transaction-looks-like
unfortunately i do not know how you can make such transactions using Electrum. you have to create them elsewhere and then only use Electrum to sign it.
here are examples: https://www.smartbit.com.au/op-returns/eternity-wall

[nc50lc]

- you can include some data in your transactions using the OP_Return code which is limited to 40 bytes
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/OP_RETURN
https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/29554/explanation-of-what-an-op-return-transaction-looks-like

This rings a bell, the past illegal contents in the blockchain issue can be linked to that "OP_Return" function.
I don't know how it works but based on your statement, it is possible to insert "something" in to the blockchain.

In case it is for internal use only: Is there another way to pass some small additional info text ?

pooya87 was right, including a "description" wont increase the total Transaction size.

You can send a link to the receiver a blockexplorer which supports Meta Data addition like blockcypher.
The Data will be stored to their site's server, not the blockchain. The problem is, anyone can add their own MetaData to that tx as well.
Like this link for example (scroll to the bottom to view): Transaction with Meta Data.

P.S: There's a link below the page which said "You can also embed data into the Bitcoin blockchain" which I suspect that is "OP_Return", anyone can confirm this?

[pooya87]

- you can include some data in your transactions using the OP_Return code which is limited to 40 bytes
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/OP_RETURN
https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/29554/explanation-of-what-an-op-return-transaction-looks-like

This rings a bell, the past illegal contents in the blockchain issue can be linked to that "OP_Return" function.
I don't know how it works but based on your statement, it is possible to insert "something" in to the blockchain.

that something is a 40 bytes of data. it can be anything. a string for example, some secret hashed data,....

P.S: There's a link below the page which said "You can also embed data into the Bitcoin blockchain" which I suspect that is "OP_Return", anyone can confirm this?

the bitcoin network option for it doesn't work since it is not free to send a transaction like that on bitcoin network but you can change it to testnet and send a transaction containing some arbitrary data. it is the Blockcypher bitcoin testnet and it is Op_return
https://live.blockcypher.com/bcy/tx/634aa69a721c7158b03e53037402d31a34f0125befee53275bb59ee7002a6a02/

[pxstein]

So this "testnet" is not really a network or a special BlockChain view.

Is is just a special BlockChain server.

The Sender has manually to add the MetaData and Receiver has manually to check this special server for reading the MetaData.

If the receiver does not know that the sender has added something then he will never read it.

Correct?

[mocacinno]

So this "testnet" is not really a network or a special BlockChain view.

Is is just a special BlockChain server.

The Sender has manually to add the MetaData and Receiver has manually to check this special server for reading the MetaData.

If the receiver does not know that the sender has added something then he will never read it.

Correct?

No, the testnet is a network of nodes that also keep a decentralized blockchain ledger, just like the main net.

The biggest difference between the testnet and main net is that at the very beginning, everybody agreed that testnet coins are worthless, and that the testnet can be 'reset' at any point in time... There are some other differences, but overall, the testnet behaves like the mainnet. So, you can use the testnet for testing without risking real money... If  something works on the testnet, it'll most probably work on the mainnet

[nc50lc]

So this "testnet" is not really a network or a special BlockChain view.
Is is just a special BlockChain server.
Correct?
-snip-

Nope, as the name said, "test"net is a different network mainly for testing purposes.
The purpose of the Meta Data in blockcypher is for bookmark or extra information to the displayed transaction,
but nothing was stored in the blockchain as I mentioned above.

pooya's 2nd post must be a reply to my post, and my 1st reply was mostly based on this:

Is there another way to pass some small additional info text ?

I assume that it is for verification that you're the one who sent the transaction, so I suggested to send a link url of a blockexplorer with MetaData feature to the receiver.
In addition, you can sign a message to the input addresses as an alternative.
Otherwise, OP_Return can't be casually used in those scenarios.

[jackg]

- you can include some data in your transactions using the OP_Return code which is limited to 40 bytes
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/OP_RETURN
https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/29554/explanation-of-what-an-op-return-transaction-looks-like

This rings a bell, the past illegal contents in the blockchain issue can be linked to that "OP_Return" function.
I don't know how it works but based on your statement, it is possible to insert "something" in to the blockchain.

By illegal contents, are you referring to how somone posted a code signature similar to that of a virus so that antivirus software attacks the blockchain.

It's therefore a good idea there's a 40byte limit or a bitcoin node attacking virus could be placed in the code (and that would be a very good strategy)...

[nc50lc]

By illegal contents, are you referring to how somone posted a code signature similar to that of a virus so that antivirus software attacks the blockchain.

It's therefore a good idea there's a 40byte limit or a bitcoin node attacking virus could be placed in the code (and that would be a very good strategy)...

I mean, the last April-May issues and news with reports of pornographic images and illegal trade-related messages embedded in the blockchain.
Whereas those are stored as chunks of 40bytes of data using a specialized app to puzzle the image/text together.
(Such sophistication for a simple thing)
That must be an indirect attack by adversaries and I have only mentioned it as a possibility.

And... we're getting off-topic.

[jackg]

By illegal contents, are you referring to how somone posted a code signature similar to that of a virus so that antivirus software attacks the blockchain.

It's therefore a good idea there's a 40byte limit or a bitcoin node attacking virus could be placed in the code (and that would be a very good strategy)...

I mean, the last April-May issues and news with reports of pornographic images and illegal trade-related messages embedded in the blockchain.
Whereas those are stored as chunks of 40bytes of data using a specialized app to puzzle the image/text together.
(Such sophistication for a simple thing)
That must be an indirect attack by adversaries and I have only mentioned it as a possibility.

And... we're getting off-topic.

That's quite admirable, I assume they've paid quite highly to get that information all in one block or in subsequent blocks so in a way they're helping the network somewhere?

Does anyone know a legal standpoint on people hosting a blockchain that has people that add illegal content to it, I mean they're technically broadcasting illegal content unintentionally which looks as if it'll be a bit legally gray.

And yeah, a mod could do with splitting this topic if one's here.