> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.theblockchainlibrary.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Gas Limit

> The maximum amount of gas a transaction is permitted to consume before execution stops.

# Gas Limit

The maximum amount of gas a transaction is permitted to consume before execution stops.

## Definition

The maximum amount of gas a transaction is permitted to consume before execution stops.

## Why it matters

Transaction and fee concepts explain how users submit work to a blockchain and how network resources are priced.

## How it works

Before sending a transaction, the wallet calculates an estimate of the required gas. The user or wallet sets a limit higher than this estimate to account for potential variations. If the transaction finishes before reaching the limit, the user only pays for the amount actually used; if it hits the limit, the transaction fails.

## Real-world example

If you are minting an NFT, your wallet might suggest a gas limit of 200,000. If the contract only needs 150,000 to succeed, your transaction goes through and you pay for 150,000.

## Advantages

* Prevents infinite execution loops
* Protects user funds from errors
* Provides predictable resource usage caps

## Limitations

* Transaction fails if set too low
* Can lead to wasted gas if set too high
* Requires estimation tools

## Common misconceptions

* Many think a higher gas limit makes the transaction faster, but it only prevents the transaction from failing early.
* Some believe the gas limit is the total fee, but the fee is calculated using the price multiplied by the used gas.

## Related knowledge

* [Blockchain](/categories/blockchain) — term
* [Cryptography](/categories/cryptography) — term
* [Web3](/categories/web3) — term

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**Canonical knowledge ID:** `glossary:gas-limit`