Definition
An execution payload is the data structure within a modern Ethereum block that encapsulates all execution-layer contents and results for that block. It typically includes the list of transactions, associated metadata, state transition outcomes, logs, gas accounting information, and references to predecessor data, serving as the canonical record of the block’s execution-layer state changes as distinct from consensus-layer metadata.
In Simple Terms
An execution payload is the part of an Ethereum block that holds all the transaction data and the results of running those transactions. It is the packaged record of what actually happened on the execution layer during that block, separate from the consensus information that organizes and validates blocks.
Context and Usage
The term execution payload is primarily used in the context of post-merge Ethereum architecture, where the protocol is conceptually divided into an execution layer and a consensus layer. It appears in specifications, client implementations, and research discussions to distinguish execution-layer block contents from consensus-layer block structures. It is central when analyzing block composition, transaction inclusion, gas accounting, and the interface between execution and consensus clients.