Lightning invoice decoder
Decoded in your browser. An invoice is a payment request; decoding it never pays it.
Questions
What is in a Lightning invoice?
A BOLT 11 invoice encodes the amount (or “any amount”), a description or its hash, when it was created and how long it is valid, the payment hash that makes the payment atomic, the recipient’s node key and optional routing hints, all signed by the recipient.
Why does it matter that an invoice has expired?
Wallets refuse expired invoices, and a recipient may have forgotten the secret behind an old one. Ask for a fresh invoice rather than paying an expired one.
Can I tell who I am paying?
The invoice identifies a Lightning node by its public key, recovered from the signature. You can look the node up to see its alias and channels, but an alias is chosen freely by its owner. It is not proof of identity.
Is the amount in the invoice exact?
Yes. Amounts are encoded to the millisatoshi. “Any amount” invoices let the payer choose. Double-check what you enter.