Operations and protocol buffers

What are operations

Operations are the fundamental building blocks of Hive blockchain transactions. Each operation represents a specific action you want to perform on the blockchain, such as transferring funds, voting on content, or updating account settings.

Think of operations as instructions that modify the blockchain state. When bundled into a transaction and broadcast, they execute atomically.

Protocol buffers

WAX uses Protocol Buffers (protobuf) as the canonical format for representing operations and blockchain types. These definitions come directly from the Hive blockchain source code.

Why Protocol Buffers?

Type Safety

Strong typing ensures your operations are correctly structured before they reach the blockchain

Efficiency

Compact binary serialization reduces bandwidth and storage requirements

Cross-Language

Single source of truth works across TypeScript, Python, and C++

Validation

Built-in validation ensures operations meet protocol requirements

Source location

All protocol definitions originate from the Hive blockchain repository:

hive/libraries/protocol/proto/
├── transaction.proto
├── operation.proto
├── vote.proto
├── transfer.proto
├── comment.proto
└── ... (100+ operation types)

Operation structure

Every operation follows a consistent structure with required and optional fields:

TypeScript
Python

// Vote operation definition
export interface vote {
  voter: string;      // Account name
  author: string;     // Post author
  permlink: string;   // Post identifier
  weight: number;     // -10000 to 10000
}

// Transfer operation definition
export interface transfer {
  from: string;              // Sender account
  to: string;                // Recipient account
  amount: asset | undefined; // Amount to transfer
  memo: string;              // Optional memo
}

from wax.proto.operations import vote, transfer

# Vote operation
vote_op = vote(
    voter="alice",
    author="bob",
    permlink="example-post",
    weight=10000
)

# Transfer operation
transfer_op = transfer(
    from_account="alice",
    to_account="bob",
    amount=wax.hive(1),
    memo="Payment"
)

Common operations

Here are the most frequently used operations:

Vote operation

Upvote or downvote content on the blockchain.

TypeScript
Python

tx.pushOperation({
  vote_operation: {
    voter: "alice",
    author: "bob",
    permlink: "example-post",
    weight: 10000  // 100% upvote
  }
});

// Downvote
tx.pushOperation({
  vote_operation: {
    voter: "alice",
    author: "spam-account",
    permlink: "spam-post",
    weight: -10000  // 100% downvote
  }
});

from wax.proto.operations import vote

# Upvote
tx.push_operation(
    vote(
        voter="alice",
        author="bob",
        permlink="example-post",
        weight=10000  # 100% upvote
    )
)

# Downvote
tx.push_operation(
    vote(
        voter="alice",
        author="spam-account",
        permlink="spam-post",
        weight=-10000  # 100% downvote
    )
)

Fields:

voter: Account casting the vote
author: Author of the content
permlink: Unique identifier for the content
weight: Vote strength from -10000 (100% downvote) to 10000 (100% upvote)

Transfer operation

Transfer HIVE or HBD between accounts.

TypeScript
Python

// Transfer HIVE
tx.pushOperation({
  transfer_operation: {
    from: "alice",
    to: "bob",
    amount: chain.hive(10.5),  // 10.5 HIVE
    memo: "Payment for services"
  }
});

// Transfer HBD
tx.pushOperation({
  transfer_operation: {
    from: "alice",
    to: "bob",
    amount: chain.hbd(25),  // 25 HBD
    memo: "Invoice #12345"
  }
});

from wax.proto.operations import transfer

# Transfer HIVE
tx.push_operation(
    transfer(
        from_account="alice",
        to_account="bob",
        amount=chain.hive(10.5),  # 10.5 HIVE
        memo="Payment for services"
    )
)

# Transfer HBD
tx.push_operation(
    transfer(
        from_account="alice",
        to_account="bob",
        amount=chain.hbd(25),  # 25 HBD
        memo="Invoice #12345"
    )
)

Fields:

from: Sender account name
to: Recipient account name
amount: Asset amount (HIVE or HBD)
memo: Optional message (max 2048 characters, can be encrypted)

When a memo starts with #, WAX automatically encrypts it using the accounts’ memo keys.

Comment operation

Create posts and comments.

TypeScript
Python

// Create a post
tx.pushOperation({
  comment_operation: {
    parent_author: "",
    parent_permlink: "blog",
    author: "alice",
    permlink: "my-first-post",
    title: "Hello Hive!",
    body: "This is my first post on Hive.",
    json_metadata: JSON.stringify({
      tags: ["introduction", "hive"],
      app: "myapp/1.0.0"
    })
  }
});

// Create a comment
tx.pushOperation({
  comment_operation: {
    parent_author: "bob",
    parent_permlink: "example-post",
    author: "alice",
    permlink: "re-example-post-20260304",
    title: "",
    body: "Great post!",
    json_metadata: ""
  }
});

from wax.proto.operations import comment
import json

# Create a post
tx.push_operation(
    comment(
        parent_author="",
        parent_permlink="blog",
        author="alice",
        permlink="my-first-post",
        title="Hello Hive!",
        body="This is my first post on Hive.",
        json_metadata=json.dumps({
            "tags": ["introduction", "hive"],
            "app": "myapp/1.0.0"
        })
    )
)

# Create a comment
tx.push_operation(
    comment(
        parent_author="bob",
        parent_permlink="example-post",
        author="alice",
        permlink="re-example-post-20260304",
        title="",
        body="Great post!",
        json_metadata=""
    )
)

Custom JSON operation

Execute custom application logic.

TypeScript
Python

tx.pushOperation({
  custom_json_operation: {
    id: "follow",
    json: JSON.stringify([
      "follow",
      {
        follower: "alice",
        following: "bob",
        what: ["blog"]
      }
    ]),
    required_auths: [],
    required_posting_auths: ["alice"]
  }
});

from wax.proto.operations import custom_json
import json

tx.push_operation(
    custom_json(
        id="follow",
        json=json.dumps([
            "follow",
            {
                "follower": "alice",
                "following": "bob",
                "what": ["blog"]
            }
        ]),
        required_auths=[],
        required_posting_auths=["alice"]
    )
)

Operation naming conventions

Operation names differ between the protocol definition and the runtime usage. Be aware of the _operation suffix.

TypeScript

In TypeScript, operations use the _operation suffix when pushed to transactions:

import { vote } from "@hiveio/wax";

// Import uses the base name
import type { vote } from "@hiveio/wax";

// Push uses the _operation suffix
tx.pushOperation({
  vote_operation: {
    voter: "alice",
    author: "bob",
    permlink: "post",
    weight: 10000
  }
});

Python

In Python, the proto classes use the base name, but the runtime expects the _operation suffix:

from wax.proto.operations import vote

# Import the class without suffix
vote_op = vote(
    voter="alice",
    author="bob",
    permlink="post",
    weight=10000
)

# Push operation (handled internally)
tx.push_operation(vote_op)

Complex operations

WAX provides high-level builders for operations that require multiple fields or complex logic:

Account update operation

TypeScript
Python

import { AccountUpdateBuilder } from "@hiveio/wax";

const accountUpdate = new AccountUpdateBuilder("alice")
  .updatePosting({
    account_auths: {},
    key_auths: {
      "STM6vJmrwaX5TjgTS9dPH8KsArso5m91fVodJvv91j7G765wqcNM9": 1
    },
    weight_threshold: 1
  })
  .updateMemo("STM5VJ9YJH7r6pAQmvjN3pUbdwLqQ6CjQMhC7vLPapj4KPvChqKnH");

tx.pushOperation(accountUpdate);

from wax.complex_operations import AccountUpdateBuilder

account_update = (
    AccountUpdateBuilder("alice")
    .update_posting(
        account_auths={},
        key_auths={
            "STM6vJmrwaX5TjgTS9dPH8KsArso5m91fVodJvv91j7G765wqcNM9": 1
        },
        weight_threshold=1
    )
    .update_memo("STM5VJ9YJH7r6pAQmvjN3pUbdwLqQ6CjQMhC7vLPapj4KPvChqKnH")
)

tx.push_operation(account_update)

Recurrent transfer operation

TypeScript
Python

import { RecurrentTransferBuilder } from "@hiveio/wax";

const recurrent = new RecurrentTransferBuilder()
  .setFrom("alice")
  .setTo("bob")
  .setAmount(chain.hive(10))
  .setMemo("Monthly payment")
  .setRecurrence(24)  // Every 24 hours
  .setExecutions(30); // 30 times

tx.pushOperation(recurrent);

from wax.complex_operations import RecurrentTransferBuilder

recurrent = (
    RecurrentTransferBuilder()
    .set_from("alice")
    .set_to("bob")
    .set_amount(chain.hive(10))
    .set_memo("Monthly payment")
    .set_recurrence(24)  # Every 24 hours
    .set_executions(30)  # 30 times
)

tx.push_operation(recurrent)

Creating custom operation builders

You can create your own operation builders for reusable operation patterns:

TypeScript
Python

ts/wasm/lib/detailed/operation_base.ts

import { OperationBase, type IOperationSink, type operation } from "@hiveio/wax";

export class MyCustomOperation extends OperationBase {
  private operations: operation[] = [];
  
  constructor(
    public readonly account: string,
    public readonly target: string
  ) {
    super();
  }
  
  public finalize(sink: IOperationSink): Iterable<operation> {
    // Build your operations here
    this.operations.push({
      custom_json_operation: {
        id: "my-app",
        json: JSON.stringify({
          account: this.account,
          target: this.target
        }),
        required_auths: [],
        required_posting_auths: [this.account]
      }
    });
    
    return this.operations;
  }
}

// Usage
const op = new MyCustomOperation("alice", "bob");
tx.pushOperation(op);

python/wax/_private/operation_base.py

from wax._private.operation_base import OperationBase
from wax.proto.operations import custom_json
import json

class MyCustomOperation(OperationBase):
    def __init__(self, account: str, target: str):
        self.account = account
        self.target = target
    
    def finalize(self, api):
        # Build your operations here
        yield custom_json(
            id="my-app",
            json=json.dumps({
                "account": self.account,
                "target": self.target
            }),
            required_auths=[],
            required_posting_auths=[self.account]
        )

# Usage
op = MyCustomOperation("alice", "bob")
tx.push_operation(op)

Operation validation

Operations are validated at multiple levels:

Protocol-level validation

The C++ core validates:

Field types and formats
Account name validity
Asset precision and amounts
String length limits
Required field presence

Application-level validation

Your code should validate:

Business logic requirements
User permissions
Balance sufficiency
Rate limiting

TypeScript
Python

try {
  tx.pushOperation({
    transfer_operation: {
      from: "alice",
      to: "bob",
      amount: chain.hive(10),
      memo: "Payment"
    }
  });
  
  tx.validate();
} catch (error) {
  if (error.message.includes("insufficient")) {
    console.error("Not enough balance");
  }
}

try:
    tx.push_operation(
        transfer(
            from_account="alice",
            to_account="bob",
            amount=chain.hive(10),
            memo="Payment"
        )
    )
    
    tx.validate()
except Exception as error:
    if "insufficient" in str(error):
        print("Not enough balance")

Asset types

Many operations work with asset types (HIVE, HBD, VESTS):

TypeScript
Python

// Create assets
const hive = chain.hive(10.5);        // 10.500 HIVE
const hbd = chain.hbd(25);            // 25.000 HBD
const vests = chain.vests(1000000);   // 1000000.000000 VESTS

// From satoshis/smallest unit
const hive2 = chain.hiveFromSatoshis(10500);  // 10.500 HIVE

// Asset structure
interface asset {
  amount: string;  // "10500" (in satoshis)
  precision: number;  // 3 for HIVE/HBD, 6 for VESTS
  nai: string;  // "@@000000021" for HIVE
}

# Create assets
hive = chain.hive(10.5)           # 10.500 HIVE
hbd = chain.hbd(25)               # 25.000 HBD
vests = chain.vests(1000000)      # 1000000.000000 VESTS

# From satoshis/smallest unit
hive2 = chain.hive_from_satoshis(10500)  # 10.500 HIVE

# Asset structure
from wax.proto.asset import asset

my_asset = asset(
    amount="10500",      # In satoshis
    precision=3,         # 3 for HIVE/HBD
    nai="@@000000021"   # HIVE identifier
)

Operation categories

Operations are organized into several categories:

Account operations

account_create
account_update
account_update2
account_witness_vote
account_witness_proxy

Transfer operations

transfer
transfer_to_vesting
transfer_to_savings
transfer_from_savings
recurrent_transfer

Content operations

comment
vote
delete_comment
comment_options

Market operations

limit_order_create
limit_order_create2
limit_order_cancel
convert
collateralized_convert

Witness operations

witness_update
witness_set_properties
feed_publish

Governance operations

create_proposal
update_proposal_votes
remove_proposal

Next steps

Signing

Learn how to sign transactions with operations

Transactions

Understand transaction structure and lifecycle

API Reference

Browse all available operations

Examples

See operations in action

Get Started

Core Concepts

Python SDK

TypeScript SDK

Guides

Extensions

Operations and protocol buffers

What are operations

Protocol buffers

Why Protocol Buffers?

Type Safety

Efficiency

Cross-Language

Validation

Source location

Operation structure

Common operations

Vote operation

Transfer operation

Comment operation

Custom JSON operation

Operation naming conventions

TypeScript

Python

Complex operations

Account update operation

Recurrent transfer operation

Creating custom operation builders

Operation validation

Protocol-level validation

Application-level validation

Asset types

Operation categories

Next steps

Signing

Transactions

API Reference

Examples

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get Started

Core Concepts

Python SDK

TypeScript SDK

Guides

Extensions

​What are operations

​Protocol buffers

​Why Protocol Buffers?

Type Safety

Efficiency

Cross-Language

Validation

​Source location

​Operation structure

​Common operations

​Vote operation

​Transfer operation

​Comment operation

​Custom JSON operation

​Operation naming conventions

​TypeScript

​Python

​Complex operations

​Account update operation

​Recurrent transfer operation

​Creating custom operation builders

​Operation validation

​Protocol-level validation

​Application-level validation

​Asset types

​Operation categories

​Next steps

Signing

Transactions

API Reference

Examples

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

What are operations

Protocol buffers

Why Protocol Buffers?

Source location

Operation structure

Common operations

Vote operation

Transfer operation

Comment operation

Custom JSON operation

Operation naming conventions

TypeScript

Python

Complex operations

Account update operation

Recurrent transfer operation

Creating custom operation builders

Operation validation

Protocol-level validation

Application-level validation

Asset types

Operation categories

Next steps