Token Types and ID Formats

Supported Token Types

The Hedera Token Service (HTS) supports multiple token types, enabling you to represent a wide range of digital assets—whether they’re identical units of value or unique items. This guide covers the supported token types and explains how tokens are identified on Hedera. The Hedera Token Service supports two primary token types:

Fungible Tokens

Fungible tokens are identical, interchangeable, and share the same value and properties. They are best suited for assets where every unit is equal. This is particularly useful for representing divisible assets such as stablecoins, loyalty points, in-game currencies, or any currency-like asset with fractional ownership.

Non-Fungible Tokens

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique and non-interchangeable, differentiated by a distinct serial number. They can represent various unique and indivisible assets that require individual distinction, such as digital art, music, collectibles, or identity and certifications.

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Token ID and Format

The Token ID uniquely identifies a token entity on the Hedera network. It consists of the shard number, realm number, and a token number, formatted as:

📌 <shardNum>.<realmNum>.<tokenNum>

This Token ID is used in all transactions and queries involving the token.

Token ID Example

📌 0.0.100 → Identifies a fungible token with a token number 100.

Components of a Token ID

Component	Description	Default
Shard Number (shardNum)	Defines the shard (partition) where the token exists. Currently, Hedera operates in only one shard, so this value remains 0.	0
Realm Number (realmNum)	Identifies the realm within a shard. Today, Hedera has one realm, so this value is also 0.	0
Token Number (tokenNum)	A unique identifier assigned to each token when it is created.	Varies (assigned at creation)
Serial Number (serialNum)	A unique identifier for individual NFTs within a collection. Not applicable to fungible tokens.	N/A (NFTs only)

Non-Fungible Token ID Format

For non-fungible tokens (NFTs), an additional serial number is appended to the Token ID to distinguish each unique instance within a collection:

📌 <shardNum>.<realmNum>.<tokenNum>/<serialNum>

NFT Token ID Example

📌 0.0.12345/1 → First NFT in collection 0.0.12345

📌 0.0.12345/2 → Second NFT in collection 0.0.12345

This consistent ID format ensures that tokens are efficiently tracked and managed across the Hedera network.