In this track: How people use Ethereum
intermediate · 3 MIN READ

Liquidation explained

A system can permit closing or reducing a position when its conditions are breached.

LET’S PICTURE IT

A pledged item can be sold under an agreed rule if the borrower no longer satisfies the required backing level.

SEE IT FOR YOURSELF
A valid counter call, step by stepStep 1 / 4
A valid counter call, step by stepFunction requestincrement()No argumentsBefore executionstored count0A local teaching example with a defined starting stateIncoming callCheck function dispatchCheck coded conditionsRules passConditions passContinue executionA failed check can revert insteadCalculation0 + 1Result: 1Storage writecount = 1Persists if call succeedsCalculating a local value and storing it are separate stepsPersistent statecount1Later readGetter reports 1No new incrementState, logs and browser display have different roles

This example begins with count zero and a request to call increment(). No real contract is deployed.

Animated local teaching model. No wallet, RPC or live blockchain data. Some labels and hashes are abbreviated for readability.

A threshold defines eligibility

A lending design can compare collateral and debt using specified prices and ratios. Crossing its liquidation condition can allow another participant to perform a defined action. Exact parameters differ between systems.

Use a fictional example

Suppose a model requires collateral value above 120 percent of debt. Debt of 100 and collateral of 150 starts above that line. If collateral value falls to 115 under the model’s price input, the condition is breached.

Execution details matter

A real mechanism can specify incentives, close limits, fees and asset-transfer rules. Oracle behavior and available liquidity can affect what happens. A threshold alone is not the complete implementation.

Do not treat a display as a guarantee

An interface’s health indicator depends on state and price assumptions. Conditions can change before the next transaction. Study the actual mechanism rather than assuming one green label guarantees future safety.

QUICK CHECK · NO PRESSURE

In the fictional 120-percent model, is collateral 115 against debt 100 above the requirement?

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