Strata Text vs Strata Core Binary

Strata consists of two distinct layers with different purposes:

• Strata Text (.st) — human-facing authoring format

• Strata Core Binary (.scb) — canonical, machine-facing format

They are related, but they are not equal.

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Two-layer architecture

Strata is deliberately split into:

1. A convenience layer for humans

2. A truth layer for machines

Only one of these defines correctness.

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Strata Core Binary (.scb)

Strata Core Binary is the source of truth.

It is the only layer that:

• defines canonical encoding

• defines hashing input

• participates in determinism guarantees

• is used for storage and transport

• is covered by Northstar guarantees

If something is ambiguous in .st but unambiguous in .scb, .scb wins.

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Properties of .scb

Strata Core Binary is:

• fully deterministic

• canonical

• unambiguous

• stable across languages

• stable across time

• hostile-input safe

Every valid Strata value has exactly one .scb representation.

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What .scb is used for

.scb is used for:

• hashing

• signing

• verification

• transport

• storage

• cross-language exchange

• audit trails

Any system that relies on correctness must operate on .scb.

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Strata Text (.st)

Strata Text is a human authoring format.

It exists to make Strata usable by humans, not to define truth.

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Properties of .st

Strata Text is:

• readable

• writable

• flexible

• ergonomic

• discardable

It is not canonical.

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What .st is used for

.st is used for:

• configuration files

• fixtures

• test vectors

• hand-authored data

• inspection and debugging

• tooling input

.st exists to compile into .scb.

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Compilation boundary

The transition from .st to .scb is a one-way boundary: