# Lightning invoice decoder

Paste a Lightning invoice (BOLT11, starting with `lnbc`) to see what it asks for: the amount, the description, when it expires and its payment hash. It runs in your browser; the invoice is not sent anywhere.

Lightning invoice

## What a Lightning invoice contains

- **Amount**: in the prefix, for example `lnbc2500u` is 2,500 micro-bitcoin, which is 250,000 sats. An invoice without an amount lets the payer choose.

- **Description**: what the payment is for, written by whoever made the invoice.

- **Expiry**: an invoice is valid for a limited time, one hour unless it says otherwise. Never pay an expired invoice; ask for a new one.

- **Payment hash**: identifies the payment. After paying, your wallet shows the matching preimage, the proof that you paid.

- **Network**: `lnbc` is Bitcoin mainnet, `lntb` testnet, `lntbs` signet.

## Lightning invoice, Lightning address or bitcoin address?

- A **Lightning invoice** is single-use and for one amount, and it expires.

- A **Lightning address** looks like an email address (name@wallet.com) and never changes: a wallet asks it for a fresh invoice each time.

- A **bitcoin address** receives on-chain payments, which take longer to confirm and cost more for small amounts.

## Get paid over Lightning without holding anyone's money

A send21 pay link can offer Lightning next to BTC on-chain, USDC, EURC and more. The payer pays your own Lightning address, and send21 confirms the payment automatically when your wallet provider supports it. Read [Lightning address payments](https://send21.io/lightning-address-payments) or the [Lightning docs](https://send21.io/docs/lightning) , or [create a crypto payment link](https://send21.io/crypto-payment-links) .

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Source: https://send21.io/tools/lightning-invoice-decoder