Definition
A relayer is a network participant or service that submits transactions or messages to a blockchain on behalf of other parties. It typically receives transaction data off-chain and then broadcasts it on-chain from its own account or infrastructure. As a network role, a relayer acts as an intermediary between users or applications and the blockchain’s transaction layer, without being the originator of the underlying intent.
In Simple Terms
A relayer is a middleman that sends transactions to a blockchain for someone else. Instead of a user sending a transaction directly, the relayer takes the user’s data and posts it to the network from its own account. It helps connect apps and users to the blockchain without them interacting with the chain directly.
Context and Usage
The term relayer is commonly used in discussions about transaction submission, meta-transactions, and infrastructure that abstracts direct blockchain interaction away from end users. It appears in contexts involving specialized transaction flows, delegated transaction broadcasting, and services that manage network interaction for wallets or applications. Relayers are often referenced when describing roles within systems that separate transaction creation from on-chain submission.