# What is a Wallet?

### Overview

Your wallet is how you hold assets and sign transactions. It replaces email/password logins. If you lose control of it, you lose your assets. Knowing wallet types and safety basics is essential.

### Core concepts

* Public key / address: Where others can send you assets.
* Private key: Secret that proves you control the wallet.
* Seed phrase: 12–24 words that back up your wallet.
* Custodial wallet: A company holds the keys for you.
* Non-custodial wallet: You hold the keys.
* Hot wallet: Connected to the internet; convenient.
* Cold wallet: Kept offline; safer (e.g., hardware wallets).

### Key takeaways

* Never share your seed phrase or private key.
* Use two wallets: a hot wallet for small, daily use; a hardware wallet for storage.
* Custodial is easier but adds third-party risk; non-custodial is safer if you follow best practices.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mosaic-9.gitbook.io/mosaic-launchpad/101-starter-pack/what-is-a-wallet.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.