> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Descriptor Syntax Reference

> Complete reference for Bitcoin Core output descriptor syntax and format

## Basic Structure

Descriptors consist of expressions with an optional checksum:

```
SCRIPT#CHECKSUM
```

Where `CHECKSUM` is an 8-character alphanumeric descriptor checksum that protects against typos.

## SCRIPT Expressions

<Accordion title="sh() - Pay-to-Script-Hash">
  **Usage:** `sh(SCRIPT)` (top level only)

  Creates a P2SH output that embeds the argument script.

  ```bash theme={null}
  sh(wpkh(03fff97bd5755eeea420453a14355235d382f6472f8568a18b2f057a1460297556))
  ```

  Nesting example:

  ```bash theme={null}
  sh(wsh(pkh(02e493dbf1c10d80f3581e4904930b1404cc6c13900ee0758474fa94abe8c4cd13)))
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="wsh() - Pay-to-Witness-Script-Hash">
  **Usage:** `wsh(SCRIPT)` (top level or inside `sh` only)

  Creates a P2WSH output that embeds the argument script.

  ```bash theme={null}
  wsh(multi(2,03a0434d9e47f3c86235477c7b1ae6ae5d3442d49b1943c2b752a68e2a47e247c7,03774ae7f858a9411e5ef4246b70c65aac5649980be5c17891bbec17895da008cb))
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="pk() - Pay-to-Pubkey">
  **Usage:** `pk(KEY)` (anywhere)

  Creates a P2PK output for the given public key.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pk(0279be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="pkh() - Pay-to-Pubkey-Hash">
  **Usage:** `pkh(KEY)` (not inside `tr`)

  Creates a P2PKH output for the given public key.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pkh(02c6047f9441ed7d6d3045406e95c07cd85c778e4b8cef3ca7abac09b95c709ee5)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="wpkh() - Pay-to-Witness-Pubkey-Hash">
  **Usage:** `wpkh(KEY)` (top level or inside `sh` only)

  Creates a P2WPKH output for the given compressed pubkey.

  ```bash theme={null}
  wpkh(02f9308a019258c31049344f85f89d5229b531c845836f99b08601f113bce036f9)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="combo() - Legacy Compatibility">
  **Usage:** `combo(KEY)` (top level only)

  Alias for `pk(KEY)` and `pkh(KEY)`. If the key is compressed, also includes `wpkh(KEY)` and `sh(wpkh(KEY))`.

  ```bash theme={null}
  combo(0279be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="multi() / sortedmulti() - Multisig">
  **Usage:** `multi(k,KEY_1,KEY_2,...,KEY_n)` (not inside `tr`)

  k-of-n multisig using OP\_CHECKMULTISIG. Use `sortedmulti` for lexicographically sorted keys.

  ```bash theme={null}
  multi(2,022f01e5e15cca351daff3843fb70f3c2f0a1bdd05e5af888a67784ef3e10a2a01,03acd484e2f0c7f65309ad178a9f559abde09796974c57e714c35f110dfc27ccbe)
  ```

  ```bash theme={null}
  sortedmulti(2,03acd484e2f0c7f65309ad178a9f559abde09796974c57e714c35f110dfc27ccbe,022f01e5e15cca351daff3843fb70f3c2f0a1bdd05e5af888a67784ef3e10a2a01)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="multi_a() / sortedmulti_a() - Taproot Multisig">
  **Usage:** `multi_a(k,KEY_1,KEY_2,...,KEY_N)` (only inside `tr`)

  k-of-n multisig using OP\_CHECKSIG, OP\_CHECKSIGADD, and OP\_NUMEQUAL for Taproot.

  ```bash theme={null}
  tr(c6047f9441ed7d6d3045406e95c07cd85c778e4b8cef3ca7abac09b95c709ee5,sortedmulti_a(2,2f8bde4d1a07209355b4a7250a5c5128e88b84bddc619ab7cba8d569b240efe4,5cbdf0646e5db4eaa398f365f2ea7a0e3d419b7e0330e39ce92bddedcac4f9bc))
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="tr() - Pay-to-Taproot">
  **Usage:** `tr(KEY)` or `tr(KEY,TREE)` (top level only)

  P2TR output with the specified key as internal key, and optionally a tree of script paths.

  ```bash theme={null}
  tr(c6047f9441ed7d6d3045406e95c07cd85c778e4b8cef3ca7abac09b95c709ee5)
  ```

  With script paths:

  ```bash theme={null}
  tr(c6047f9441ed7d6d3045406e95c07cd85c778e4b8cef3ca7abac09b95c709ee5,{pk(fff97bd5755eeea420453a14355235d382f6472f8568a18b2f057a1460297556),pk(e493dbf1c10d80f3581e4904930b1404cc6c13900ee0758474fa94abe8c4cd13)})
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="addr() - Address Reference">
  **Usage:** `addr(ADDR)` (top level only)

  Expands to the script that the given address represents.

  ```bash theme={null}
  addr(1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="raw() - Raw Script">
  **Usage:** `raw(HEX)` (top level only)

  Uses the script whose hex encoding is HEX.

  ```bash theme={null}
  raw(6a)
  ```
</Accordion>

## KEY Expressions

KEY expressions can include optional key origin information and support multiple formats.

### Key Origin Information

Format: `[fingerprint/path]KEY`

```bash theme={null}
[d34db33f/44'/0'/0']xpub6ERApfZwUNrhLCkDtcHTcxd75RbzS1ed54G1LkBUHQVHQKqhMkhgbmJbZRkrgZw4koxb5JaHWkY4ALHY2grBGRjaDMzQLcgJvLJuZZvRcEL
```

Components:

* `[` - Opening bracket
* `d34db33f` - 8 hex character fingerprint (first 32 bits of Hash160 of master pubkey)
* `/44'/0'/0'` - Derivation path (unhardened or hardened steps)
* `]` - Closing bracket

### Supported Key Formats

<Accordion title="Hex-Encoded Public Keys">
  **Compressed:** 66 characters starting with `02` or `03`

  ```bash theme={null}
  pk(0279be667ef9dcbbac55a06295ce870b07029bfcdb2dce28d959f2815b16f81798)
  ```

  **Uncompressed:** 130 characters starting with `04`

  **x-only (Taproot):** 64 hex characters (inside `tr` and `rawtr` only)

  ```bash theme={null}
  tr(c6047f9441ed7d6d3045406e95c07cd85c778e4b8cef3ca7abac09b95c709ee5)
  ```

  **Note:** Only compressed keys are permitted inside `wpkh` and `wsh`.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="WIF Private Keys">
  WIF-encoded private keys can be specified instead of public keys.

  ```bash theme={null}
  pkh(L1uyy5qTuGrVXrmrsvHWHgVzW9kKdrp27wBC7Vs6nZDTF2BRUVwy)
  ```
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Extended Keys (xpub/xprv)">
  BIP32 extended public or private keys with optional derivation paths.

  **Basic xpub:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  pk(xpub661MyMwAqRbcFtXgS5sYJABqqG9YLmC4Q1Rdap9gSE8NqtwybGhePY2gZ29ESFjqJoCu1Rupje8YtGqsefD265TMg7usUDFdp6W1EGMcet8)
  ```

  **With derivation path:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  pkh(xpub68Gmy5EdvgibQVfPdqkBBCHxA5htiqg55crXYuXoQRKfDBFA1WEjWgP6LHhwBZeNK1VTsfTFUHCdrfp1bgwQ9xv5ski8PX9rL2dZXvgGDnw/1/2)
  ```

  **With wildcard:**

  ```bash theme={null}
  pkh(xpub68Gmy5EdvgibQVfPdqkBBCHxA5htiqg55crXYuXoQRKfDBFA1WEjWgP6LHhwBZeNK1VTsfTFUHCdrfp1bgwQ9xv5ski8PX9rL2dZXvgGDnw/1/*)
  ```

  **Derivation path syntax:**

  * `/NUM` - Unhardened derivation
  * `/NUM'` or `/NUM h` - Hardened derivation
  * `/*` - All unhardened children (default range: 0-1000)
  * `/*'` or `/*h` - All hardened children

  **Note:** Hardened derivation requires access to the private key.
</Accordion>

## Multipath Descriptors

Specify receiving and change paths in a single descriptor using tuple notation:

```bash theme={null}
wpkh(xpub.../0/*)
```

Receiving and change in one descriptor:

```bash theme={null}
wpkh(xpub.../<0;1>/*)
```

This expands to two descriptors:

* `wpkh(xpub.../0/*)` - Receiving addresses
* `wpkh(xpub.../1/*)` - Change addresses

## TREE Expressions

For Taproot script trees inside `tr()`:

**Single script:**

```bash theme={null}
tr(KEY,SCRIPT)
```

**Multiple scripts:**

```bash theme={null}
tr(KEY,{SCRIPT1,SCRIPT2})
```

**Nested trees:**

```bash theme={null}
tr(KEY,{SCRIPT1,{SCRIPT2,SCRIPT3}})
```

## Checksums

Descriptors should include an 8-character checksum for error detection:

```bash theme={null}
wpkh(02f9308a019258c31049344f85f89d5229b531c845836f99b08601f113bce036f9)#8zl0zxz0
```

**Checksum properties:**

* Detects up to 4 character substitution errors (descriptors ≤ 501 chars)
* Detects up to 3 errors in longer descriptors
* \~1 in trillion false negative rate for other error types

**Generate checksums:**

```bash theme={null}
bitcoin-cli getdescriptorinfo "wpkh(xpub...)"
```

## Address Types

Supported address formats for `addr()` expressions:

* **P2PKH:** `1...` (mainnet) or `[nm]...` (testnet)
* **P2SH:** `3...` (mainnet) or `2...` (testnet)
* **Segwit:** `bc1...` (mainnet) or `tb1...` (testnet) - bech32/bech32m format