Ethereum 0x address format explained
An Ethereum address is 20 bytes, usually displayed as 0x followed by 40 hexadecimal characters. It is not the full public key.
Worked example
| Part | Documented example | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | 0x | Hexadecimal notation, not a chain identifier |
| Body | 5aAeb6053F3E94C9b9A09f33669435E7Ef1BeAed | 40 hex characters = 20 bytes |
| Full EIP-55 example | 0x5aAeb6053F3E94C9b9A09f33669435E7Ef1BeAed | Public specification fixture; do not send funds |
Count characters without changing them
Each pair of hex characters represents one byte. The prefix adds two display characters, giving 42 total. Letters are limited to A–F or a–f; 0x1234 is too short, and a body containing G is invalid hex.
What the example establishes
This is a documented checksum test example, not a receiving instruction. A correctly shaped address can identify an externally owned account or a contract on a given network. Neither its length nor capitalization establishes who controls it.
Common pitfalls
- Do not add spaces or line breaks to the copied payload.
- A transaction hash normally has 64 hex characters after 0x, not 40.
Related references
Primary sources
Examples explain identifiers. They are not investment recommendations.