What Is the Safe Math Library and Why Is It Used?

The safe math library, such as OpenZeppelin's SafeMath, is a set of functions designed to perform arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication) while explicitly checking for integer overflow and underflow conditions. In older versions of Solidity, these checks were not built-in, so developers had to manually ensure that results stayed within the bounds of the variable type.

SafeMath reverts the transaction if an overflow or underflow is detected, preventing the state corruption that leads to balance manipulation.

What Are the Most Common Smart Contract Vulnerabilities Exploited by State-Sponsored Attackers?
How Does the Signed Integer Type Change the Definition of Overflow/underflow?
What Is the Performance Impact of Using a Safe Math Library?
How Can a Developer Intentionally Disable the Overflow Checks in Solidity 0.8.0?
Can SafeMath Prevent All Logic Errors Related to Arithmetic?
What Specific Types of Vulnerabilities Are Common in Turing-Complete Smart Contracts but Absent in Non-Turing-Complete Ones?
Explain the Difference between an Overflow and an Underflow
How Did the DAO Hack Relate to Integer Overflow?

Glossar