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Why do we write "abi" before abi.encode()? I understand that ABI is a like a JSON file used to help interaction of different applications because the solidity code is stored as bytecode, but I don't understand why we write "abi" before some "specific" functions in solidity.

I also know that abi.decode is a specific decoding function but why do we add "abi" before it. What is its usecase? https://solidity.readthedocs.io/en/v0.5.3/units-and-global-variables.html#abi-encoding-and-decoding-functions

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I'm guessing you mean: "Why do we have to put 'abi' into 'abi.encode()'?"

ABI encoding functions were added in Solidity 0.4.24 as a new feature.

Typing 'abi' before specific functions is intended as a way to easily identify those functions which deal with ABI encoding. It's just a design choice that the Solidity team made.

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  • Thanks! I am coming from Java background and something with a '.' usually meant a package or class so I got confused. Thanks alot!
    – ciberexplosion
    Aug 26, 2020 at 7:23

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