leo execute

The leo execute command executes Leo programs on the Aleo network, generating cryptographic proofs and optionally broadcasting transactions.

Syntax

leo execute [NAME] [INPUTS...] [OPTIONS]

Arguments

NAME

string

default:"main"

The function to execute. Can be:

Function name only: main
Qualified name: hello_world.aleo/main

INPUTS

string[]

Program inputs in Aleo format:

Literals: 1u32, true, 5field
Records (plaintext): { owner: aleo1..., gates: 5u64 }
Records (ciphertext): record1... (automatically decrypted)

Options

Network Options

--network

string

required

Network type: mainnet, testnet, or canary.

--endpoint

string

required

Network endpoint URL. Examples:

Mainnet: https://api.explorer.provable.com/v1
Testnet: https://api.explorer.provable.com/v1
Devnet: http://localhost:3030

--private-key

string

required

Private key to sign the transaction.

Never use test private keys on mainnet. Keep your private keys secure.

--devnet

boolean

default:false

Whether the network is a devnet.

--consensus-heights

string

Custom consensus heights (comma-separated). For custom devnets only.

Fee Options

--priority-fees

string

Priority fee in microcredits, delimited by |. Use default for automatic calculation.Example: 1000|2000|default

--fee-records

string

Records to pay fees privately, delimited by |. Use default for public fees.Example: record1abc...|default

Transaction Actions

--broadcast

boolean

default:false

Broadcast the transaction to the network.

--print

boolean

default:false

Print the transaction JSON to stdout.

--save

string

Save the transaction to the specified directory.

Additional Options

--skip-execute-proof

boolean

default:false

Skip proof generation. Generates transaction without proof (for testing).

-y, --yes

boolean

default:false

Skip confirmation prompts. Use with caution.

--consensus-version

number

Consensus version to use (1-13). Auto-detected if not provided.

--max-wait

number

default:8

Seconds to wait for block confirmation.

--blocks-to-check

number

default:12

Number of blocks to check for transaction confirmation.

Build Options

--no-cache

boolean

default:false

Don’t use the dependency cache.

--no-local

boolean

default:false

Use network versions of dependencies.

Examples

Execute and Print

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 --print

Generates the transaction and prints it without broadcasting:

{
  "type": "execute",
  "id": "at1...",
  "execution": {
    "transitions": [...],
    "global_state_root": "sr1..."
  },
  "fee": {
    "transition": {...},
    "global_state_root": "sr1..."
  }
}

Execute and Broadcast

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --broadcast \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp... \
  --network testnet \
  --endpoint https://api.explorer.provable.com/v1

Output:

🚀 Execution Plan Summary
──────────────────────────────────────────────
🔧 Configuration:
  Private Key:        APrivateKey1zkp...
  Address:            aleo1abc...
  Endpoint:           https://api.explorer.provable.com/v1
  Network:            testnet
  Consensus Version:  13

🎯 Execution Target:
  Program:            hello_world.aleo
  Function:           main
  Source:             local

💸 Fee Info:
  Priority Fee:       0 μcredits
  Fee Record:         no (public fee)

⚙️ Actions:
  - Transaction will be broadcast to https://api.explorer.provable.com/v1

Do you want to proceed with execution? [y/N]: y

⚙️ Executing hello_world.aleo/main...

📊 Execution Cost Summary for hello_world.aleo
──────────────────────────────────────────────
  Storage Cost:       1234 μcredits
  Execution Cost:     5678 μcredits
  Priority Fee:       0 μcredits
  Total Cost:         6912 μcredits
──────────────────────────────────────────────

➡️  Output

 • 3u32

📡 Broadcasting execution for hello_world.aleo...
✅ Execution confirmed!

Execute with Priority Fee

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --priority-fees 1000 \
  --broadcast \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp...

Priority fees increase the likelihood of faster transaction inclusion by validators.

Execute with Private Fee

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --fee-records record1abc... \
  --broadcast \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp...

Use a record to pay fees privately instead of public credits.

Execute and Save

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --save ./transactions \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp...

Saves the transaction to ./transactions/transaction.execution.json.

Execute Remote Program

leo execute credits.aleo/transfer_public \
  aleo1receiver... \
  100u64 \
  --broadcast \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp...

Executes a program deployed on the network.

Skip Proof Generation (Testing)

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --skip-execute-proof \
  --print

Transactions without proofs cannot be broadcast to the network. Use --skip-execute-proof for testing only.

Execute with Custom Consensus Version

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --consensus-version 13 \
  --broadcast

Execute Without Confirmation

leo execute main 1u32 2u32 \
  --broadcast \
  --yes \
  --private-key APrivateKey1zkp...

Use --yes with caution. It skips all confirmation prompts.

Execution Flow

Build Phase:
- Compiles the program if in a Leo project
- Resolves and downloads dependencies
VM Initialization:
- Creates VM with consensus store
- Initializes query interface for network state
Program Loading:
- Loads local or remote programs
- Adds programs to VM in dependency order
Authorization:
- Generates authorization for function execution
- Creates proof (unless --skip-execute-proof)
Cost Estimation:
- Calculates storage and execution costs
- Displays cost summary
Fee Authorization:
- Generates fee authorization (public or private)
- Uses provided priority fee if specified
Transaction Creation:
- Combines execution and fee
- Produces final transaction
Broadcasting (if --broadcast):
- Confirms fee with user
- Broadcasts to network
- Monitors for confirmation

Cost Breakdown

Execution costs consist of:

Storage Cost

Cost to store transaction data on-chain:

Proportional to transaction size
Measured in microcredits

Execution Cost

Cost to execute the program:

Based on computational complexity
Number of constraints in the circuit

Priority Fee

Optional fee to prioritize transaction:

Higher fees increase inclusion likelihood
Goes to block validators

Total Cost

Total = Storage Cost + Execution Cost + Priority Fee

Transaction Confirmation

After broadcasting, Leo monitors the transaction:

📡 Broadcasting execution for hello_world.aleo...

Transaction ID: at1abc...
Fee ID: fi1def...

Checking for confirmation in blocks...
✅ Execution confirmed!

Confirmation process:

Broadcasts transaction to mempool
Waits for inclusion in a block (up to --max-wait seconds per block)
Checks recent blocks (up to --blocks-to-check blocks)
Reports success or timeout

JSON Output Format

With --print or --save, transactions are in JSON format:

{
  "type": "execute",
  "id": "at1...",
  "execution": {
    "transitions": [
      {
        "id": "...",
        "program": "hello_world.aleo",
        "function": "main",
        "inputs": [...],
        "outputs": [...],
        "tpk": "...",
        "tcm": "..."
      }
    ],
    "global_state_root": "sr1...",
    "proof": "..."
  },
  "fee": {
    "transition": {...},
    "global_state_root": "sr1...",
    "proof": "..."
  }
}

Warnings

Leo displays warnings for:

Program Mismatch

⚠️ The program 'hello_world.aleo' on the network does not match the local copy.

Resolution:

Deploy your local version, or
Use --no-local to use the network version

Program Not on Network

⚠️ The program 'hello_world.aleo' does not exist on the network.

Resolution:

Deploy the program first with leo deploy

Consensus Version Mismatch

⚠️ Expected consensus version 13 but found 12 at endpoint.

Resolution:

Verify your endpoint is correct
Use --consensus-version to override

Troubleshooting

Insufficient Balance

Failed to authorize fee: insufficient balance

Ensure your account has enough credits for the execution cost and fees.

Transaction Rejected

Failed to broadcast execution: transaction rejected by mempool

Possible causes:

Invalid inputs
Program not deployed
Insufficient fee
Consensus version mismatch

Confirmation Timeout

Transaction not confirmed within 12 blocks

The transaction may still be pending. Check the transaction ID on a block explorer.

Best Practices

Test First: Use leo run for rapid testing before executing on-chain
Verify Costs: Review cost summaries before confirming
Use Priority Fees: For time-sensitive transactions
Save Transactions: Use --save for record-keeping
Monitor Confirmation: Wait for confirmation before assuming success

Get Started

Leo Language

CLI Commands

Development

Advanced

Documentation Index

​Syntax

​Arguments

​Options

​Network Options

​Fee Options

​Transaction Actions

​Additional Options

​Build Options

​Examples

​Execute and Print

​Execute and Broadcast

​Execute with Priority Fee

​Execute with Private Fee

​Execute and Save

​Execute Remote Program

​Skip Proof Generation (Testing)

​Execute with Custom Consensus Version

​Execute Without Confirmation

​Execution Flow

​Cost Breakdown

​Storage Cost

​Execution Cost

​Priority Fee

​Total Cost

​Transaction Confirmation

​JSON Output Format

​Warnings

​Program Mismatch

​Program Not on Network

​Consensus Version Mismatch

​Troubleshooting

​Insufficient Balance

​Transaction Rejected

​Confirmation Timeout

​Best Practices

​Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Syntax

Arguments

Options

Network Options

Fee Options

Transaction Actions

Additional Options

Build Options

Examples

Execute and Print

Execute and Broadcast

Execute with Priority Fee

Execute with Private Fee

Execute and Save

Execute Remote Program

Skip Proof Generation (Testing)

Execute with Custom Consensus Version

Execute Without Confirmation

Execution Flow

Cost Breakdown

Storage Cost

Execution Cost

Priority Fee

Total Cost

Transaction Confirmation

JSON Output Format

Warnings

Program Mismatch

Program Not on Network

Consensus Version Mismatch

Troubleshooting

Insufficient Balance

Transaction Rejected

Confirmation Timeout

Best Practices

Next Steps