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What does 'startGas' or 'gasLimit' indicate in a transaction?

  1. The maximum amount of ether sent

  2. The total gas consumed during the transaction

  3. The units of gas that a transaction is allowed to consume

  4. The transaction's priority level

The correct answer is: The units of gas that a transaction is allowed to consume

The term 'startGas' or 'gasLimit' refers specifically to the units of gas that a transaction is permitted to consume during its execution on the Ethereum blockchain. When a transaction is initiated, the sender defines a gas limit, which indicates the maximum amount of computational work they are willing to pay for, measured in gas units. This mechanism is crucial to the functioning of the Ethereum network, as it serves multiple purposes: it prevents the network from being overwhelmed by infinite loops or excessively resource-intensive operations, and it protects users by ensuring they do not spend more ether than they intend on a transaction. The set limit helps miners prioritize transactions based on their gas fees and maximum gas consumption allowed, but the key aspect is that it delineates a boundary for how much gas the transaction can use. Understanding this concept is fundamental for blockchain developers, as it impacts transaction efficiency and cost management in smart contracts and decentralized applications.