# Introspection opcodes

Source URL: https://help.blockstream.com/education/glossary/introspection-opcodes
Updated: 2026-05-26T17:15:00.000Z
Letter: I

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Introspection opcodes are a specific subset of [opcodes](https://support.dxp-staging.blockstream.com/education/glossary/opcode) that allow for a more modular approach to covenant construction, providing a way for scripts to inspect certain aspects of the transaction.

Introspection opcodes push data from the current transaction onto the stack, unlike ordinary push opcodes (which push arbitrary user-provided data onto the stack) or other opcodes (which manipulate data already on the stack). This allows covenant authors to put conditions on specific parts of a transaction, giving them fine-grained control over how coins may be moved.

A number of introspection opcodes went live on the [Liquid Network](https://support.dxp-staging.blockstream.com/education/glossary/liquid-network) in November 2021, along with Taproot, as part of an upgrade to Elements. With these new opcodes, developers can deploy advanced smart contracts that offer financial products, such as non-custodial limit orders and fully collateralized options contracts, to traders seeking to reduce the reliance on third-party trust.

See [here](https://github.com/ElementsProject/elements/blob/master/doc/tapscript%5Fopcodes.md?ref=blog.blockstream.com) for the complete list of introspection opcodes added during Liquid's Taproot upgrade.

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