> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://lightprotocol-migration.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Compressed tokens provide full SPL token functionality without per-account rent cost.

| Creation           | Regular SPL Token | Compressed Token   | Cost Reduction |
| :----------------- | :---------------- | :----------------- | :------------- |
| 100 Token Accounts | \~ 0.2 SOL        | **\~ 0.00004 SOL** | **5000x**      |

Compressed token accounts store information about an individual's ownership of a specific token (mint). Different from regular token accounts, they don't require an Associated Token Account (ATA) per token holder.

For example, this simplifies [token distribution](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/developer-content/blob/main/zk-compression-docs/compressed-tokens/implementation-guides/create-an-airdrop.md), since you don't need to allocate a token account per recipient.

**Compressed Tokens at a Glance**

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Rent-free tokens">
    Create token accounts without upfront rent exempt balance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="SPL Compatibility">
    Compatible with SPL tokens and Solana programs.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Wallet Support">
    Supported by leading wallets including Phantom and Backpack.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Start building

Developing with compressed tokens works similar SPL tokens and involves minimal setup:

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Install dependencies

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash npm theme={null}
      npm install --save-dev typescript tsx @types/node && \
      npm install --save \
          @lightprotocol/stateless.js \
          @lightprotocol/compressed-token \
          @solana/web3.js \
          @solana/spl-token
      ```

      ```bash yarn theme={null}
      yarn add --dev typescript tsx @types/node && \
      yarn add \
          @lightprotocol/stateless.js \
          @lightprotocol/compressed-token \
          @solana/web3.js \
          @solana/spl-token
      ```

      ```bash pnpm theme={null}
      pnpm add --save-dev typescript tsx @types/node && \
      pnpm add \
          @lightprotocol/stateless.js \
          @lightprotocol/compressed-token \
          @solana/web3.js \
          @solana/spl-token
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set up your developer environment

    <Accordion title="Setup Developer Environment">
      By default, all guides use Localnet.

      ```bash theme={null}
      # Install the development CLI
      npm install @lightprotocol/zk-compression-cli
      ```

      ```bash theme={null}
      # Start a local test validator
      light test-validator

      ## ensure you have the Solana CLI accessible in your system PATH
      ```

      ```typescript theme={null}
      // createRpc() defaults to local test validator endpoints
      import {
        Rpc,
        createRpc,
      } from "@lightprotocol/stateless.js";

      const connection: Rpc = createRpc();

      async function main() {
        let slot = await connection.getSlot();
        console.log(slot);

        let health = await connection.getIndexerHealth(slot);
        console.log(health);
        // "Ok"
      }

      main();
      ```

      **Alternative: Using Devnet**

      Replace `<your-api-key>` with your actual API key. [Get your API key here](https://www.helius.dev/zk-compression), if you don't have one yet.

      ```typescript theme={null}
      import { createRpc } from "@lightprotocol/stateless.js";

      // Helius exposes Solana and Photon RPC endpoints through a single URL
      const RPC_ENDPOINT = "https://devnet.helius-rpc.com?api-key=<your_api_key>";
      const connection = createRpc(RPC_ENDPOINT, RPC_ENDPOINT, RPC_ENDPOINT);

      console.log("Connection created!");
      console.log("RPC Endpoint:", RPC_ENDPOINT);
      ```
    </Accordion>
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Get started with our cookbook or advanced guides for implementations
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Guides

| Guide                                                                                                                                     | Description                                                        |
| :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Create and Register a Mint Account for Compression](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-create-and-register-a-mint-account-for-compression) | Create new SPL mint with token pool for compression                |
| [Create Compressed Token Accounts](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-create-compressed-token-accounts)                                     | Create compressed and learn difference to regular token accounts   |
| [Mint Compressed Tokens](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-mint-compressed-tokens)                                                         | Create new compressed tokens to existing mint                      |
| [Transfer Compressed Tokens](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-transfer-compressed-token)                                                  | Move compressed tokens between compressed accounts                 |
| [Decompress and Compress Tokens](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-compress-and-decompress-spl-tokens)                                     | Convert SPL tokens between regular and compressed format           |
| [Compress Complete SPL Token Accounts](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-compress-complete-spl-token-accounts)                             | Compress complete SPL token accounts and reclaim rent afterwards   |
| [Merge Compressed Accounts](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-merge-compressed-token-accounts)                                             | Consolidate multiple compressed accounts of the same mint into one |
| [Create Token Pools for Mint Accounts](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-create-compressed-token-pools-for-mint-accounts)                  | Create token pool for compression for existing SPL mints           |
| [Approve and Revoke Delegate Authority](/compressed-tokens/guides/how-to-approve-and-revoke-delegate-authority)                           | Approve or revoke delegates for compressed token accounts          |

### Advanced Guides

| Guide                                                                                                                                                                                      | Description                                                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| [Add Wallet Support for Compressed Tokens](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/developer-content/blob/main/zk-compression-docs/compressed-tokens/add-wallet-support-for-compressed-tokens.md) | Add compressed token support in your wallet application                                                      |
| [Use Token-2022 with Compression](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/developer-content/blob/main/zk-compression-docs/compressed-tokens/use-token-2022-with-compression.md)                   | Create compressed Token-2022 mints with metadata and other extensions                                        |
| [Create an Airdrop without Claim](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/developer-content/blob/main/zk-compression-docs/compressed-tokens/create-an-airdrop.md)                                 | Create an airdrop that appears directly in recipients' wallets (with or without code)                        |
| [Example Airdrop with Claim](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/example-compressed-claim)                                                                                                    | Demo for time-locked airdrop with compressed tokens                                                          |
| [Example Web Client](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/example-web-client)                                                                                                                  | Demonstrates how to use @lightprotocol/stateless.js in a browser environment to interact with ZK Compression |
| [Example Node.js Client](https://github.com/Lightprotocol/example-nodejs-client)                                                                                                           | Script to execute basic compression/decompression/transfers                                                  |

## Next Steps

Get started with the first cookbook guide.