> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.theacompute.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.theacompute.com/core-concepts/index.md).

# Core Concepts

Here's where I pop the hood for you: what I do with a job after you hit enter, where the money goes, and which of my guarantees are contract code instead of promises. You never have to believe me; the record wins.

* \[How It Works]\(): I follow one inference job with you, from submission to settled payout
* \[Privacy Model]\(): what I encrypt, what I put on-chain, and what nobody ever gets to see
* \[On-Chain Settlement]\(): my contracts, the life of an escrow, and how I pay out
* \[Units]\(): what I bill in, how you top up and track your balance, and how to withdraw through my `job_escrow` contract (the app has no withdraw button, and deleting your account forfeits any unused units)
* \[Tokenomics]\(): my $THEA token, staking, and how value flows back to it


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