An account is a container that persistently holds data, similar to a file on a computer. They come in various forms:

• User accounts: These accounts have a private key and are typically generated by a wallet software for a user.
• Data accounts: These accounts store state information, such as the number of a specific token a user holds.
• Program accounts: These are larger accounts that contain executable bytecode, somewhat equivalent to a .exe file on Windows or a .app file on Mac.
  • Program Account
  • Program Executable Data Account
  • Buffer Account
• Native program accounts: These are special pre-deployed program accounts that perform various core functionalities of the network. Examples include the Vote Program and the BPF Loader.
  • System Program
  • Config Program
  • Stack Program
  • Vote Program
  • Address Lookup Table Program
  • BPF Loader Program
  • Ed25519 Program
  • secp256k1 Program

All accounts have the following fields:

1. Data (Byte Array)

• This is where the account’s information is stored.
• If it’s a normal account (like a wallet), it stores simple information such as balance or user details.
• If it’s a smart contract, it stores the actual program code that runs on the Solana network.
• People often call this "account data."

💡 Example:

• For a wallet, it holds your SOL balance and some details.
• For a game or token program, it holds the code that makes the game or token work.

2. Executable (True/False)