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What are Output Descriptors?

Output descriptors are a simple language for describing collections of output scripts in Bitcoin Core. Introduced in Bitcoin Core v0.17, descriptors provide a standardized way to specify how Bitcoin addresses and scripts are generated.

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Why Use Output Descriptors?

Output descriptors offer several advantages over traditional wallet formats:

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Precise Script Definition

Descriptors eliminate ambiguity by explicitly defining the exact script type and derivation paths. Instead of relying on implicit wallet behavior, you declare exactly what type of addresses you want to use.

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Portable and Standardized

Descriptors can be shared across different wallet implementations and tools. The same descriptor will produce the same addresses regardless of the software used.

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Support for Complex Scripts

Descriptors support a wide range of script types:
  • Single-key scripts (P2PK, P2PKH, P2WPKH)
  • Nested scripts (P2SH-P2WPKH)
  • Multisig configurations
  • Taproot outputs (P2TR)
  • Miniscript expressions for advanced spending conditions

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Hardware Wallet Compatibility

Descriptors include key origin information (master key fingerprint and derivation paths), making them ideal for use with hardware wallets and external signers.

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Supported Script Types

  • P2PK - Pay-to-pubkey via pk() function
  • P2PKH - Pay-to-pubkey-hash via pkh() function
  • P2WPKH - Pay-to-witness-pubkey-hash via wpkh() function
  • P2SH - Pay-to-script-hash via sh() function
  • P2WSH - Pay-to-witness-script-hash via wsh() function
  • multi() - k-of-n multisig using OP_CHECKMULTISIG
  • sortedmulti() - k-of-n multisig with lexicographically sorted keys
  • multi_a() - Taproot-compatible multisig (inside tr() only)
  • sortedmulti_a() - Sorted Taproot multisig (inside tr() only)
  • tr() - Pay-to-taproot outputs with optional script paths
  • Miniscript - Policy-based scripts in wsh() and tr() functions
  • addr() - Reference any supported address type
  • raw() - Use raw hex-encoded scripts

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RPC Support

Bitcoin Core provides extensive RPC support for working with descriptors:

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Query and Analysis

  • getdescriptorinfo - Analyze and canonicalize descriptors with checksums
  • deriveaddresses - Generate addresses from descriptors
  • listdescriptors - List descriptors in a descriptor wallet (v22+)

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Wallet Operations

  • importdescriptors - Import descriptors into a wallet (v0.21+)
  • scantxoutset - Scan the UTXO set for matching outputs
  • scanblocks - Scan blocks for descriptor activity (v25+)
  • getdescriptoractivity - Get detailed event data for descriptors (v25+)

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Transaction Building

  • listunspent - Outputs specialized descriptors for UTXOs
  • utxoupdatepsbt - Add descriptor information to PSBTs (v0.19+)
  • createmultisig - Returns descriptors for multisig setups (v0.20+)

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Version History

  • v0.17 - Initial descriptor support
  • v0.18 - Added getaddressinfo descriptor output
  • v0.19 - PSBT descriptor support, generatetodescriptor
  • v0.20 - Descriptor output for multisig RPCs
  • v0.21 - importdescriptors for descriptor wallets
  • v22 - listdescriptors RPC
  • v24 - Miniscript support in wsh() (watch-only)
  • v25 - Miniscript signing support, scanblocks RPC
  • v26 - Miniscript in Taproot descriptors

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Next Steps

Descriptor Syntax

Learn the complete syntax for writing descriptors

Examples

Explore real-world descriptor examples