# X-Talk Overview

**To get an overall Perspective on L1X and X-Talk; watch the video on this** [**link**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sksI3OgpSw\&t=460s\&ab_channel=LayerOneX)**.**&#x20;



**X-Talk** is a bridgeless infrastructure designed for seamless inter-chain communication. Its primary function is to process, store, and execute event-driven data and payloads, guided by a set of predefined rules specific to each event type. This architecture enables a deterministic application of rules on various types, all facilitated through the **X-Talk Flow Contract**.&#x20;

**X-Talk Flow Contract** includes X-Talk Contract, Event Configuration Contract and Signing-Broadcasting Contract as a subset of the flow contract. These contracts process instructions based on **X-Talk messaging standard** or instruction sets.&#x20;



<figure><img src="https://879140870-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FeTLmER6Ab8VaxeOI6Vla%2Fuploads%2FiHuHAEpMIJ1bHU5QVj7C%2FX_Talk_Flow_Light.jpg?alt=media&#x26;token=28543237-3d31-4cc8-86ef-110c1d3d3464" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>



To realise this, X-Talk harnesses the **L1X Protocol**, a comprehensive protocol suite that includes:

* **L1X Virtual Machine (VM)**: Executes the X-Flow contracts.
* **Networking**: Ensures efficient communication within the ecosystem.
* **Consensus**: Ensures all nodes reach agreement on the data's validity.
* **State Layer**: Maintains and manages the state of contracts.

This structure grants X-Talk its layered, modular architecture comprising various node types, each having a distinct role, underpinned by a robust storage layer.

#### **X-Talk Rule Engine**

<figure><img src="https://879140870-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FeTLmER6Ab8VaxeOI6Vla%2Fuploads%2FEo6U7cEfZQfG1fs0Ag2u%2FRule%20Engine.png?alt=media&#x26;token=28006aef-df5a-462e-98a5-14daedf9a790" alt=""><figcaption><p>Rule Engine = Flow Logic + Business Logic</p></figcaption></figure>



The heart of X-Talk is its **X-Talk** **Rule Engine**, which is responsible for the dynamic consensus across multiple levels. The Rule Engine enforces rules specific to each event type, ensuring a seamless flow of cross-chain interactions. It not only maintains the protocol's communication integrity but also its interaction processes' reliability.

Upon storing event data, the system applies these predefined rules to modify the payload. This modification takes into account the client chain's state and the conditions inherent to the L1X contract state. The process culminates in the **Get\_Payload\_To\_Sign** function. This function synthesises the set rules with business and application logic. For instance, it might produce a `sign_payload` for an `x_chain_method` based on a specific state value determination which can be transformed.



**XTalk vs Bridge**

| Criteria               | X-Talk                                                           | Typical Bridge                                                                            |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Number of Contracts    | 1 (CrossChainSwapFlow)                                           | Multiple (e.g., 3-5)                                                                      |
| Contract Complexity    | Decentralised                                                    | Distributed                                                                               |
| State Management       | Within the contract                                              | Across multiple contracts                                                                 |
| Event Handling         | Directly in the contract                                         | Handled by individual specialised contracts                                               |
| Verification Process   | Unified within the single contract                               | Often split across multiple contracts                                                     |
| Storage Interaction    | Direct through load and save methods                             | Might be spread across different contracts, leading to increased gas costs and complexity |
| Interoperability       | Designed for cross-chain applications                            | Requires external connectors or oracles for each chain involved                           |
| Security Concerns      | Decentralised point of failure with less complexity              | Multiple points of failure due to distributed nature, but isolates risks                  |
| Development Complexity | Lower (single contract development)                              | Higher (coordination between multiple contracts)                                          |
| Execution Efficiency   | More efficient due to logic with a single Decentralised Contract | Higher Overhead and complexity due to multiple contract interactions                      |

***
