---
title: "BIP380 Descriptor Key Expressions: Hex, WIF, and BIP32 (PDF)"
url: "https://bip39-phrase.com/list-phrase/bip380-descriptor-key-expressions-hex-wif-and-bip32-2026-10-24/"
language: "en"
updated: "2026-10-24T00:00:00+00:00"
---

# BIP380 Descriptor Key Expressions: Hex, WIF, and BIP32

Learn how BIP380 defines key expressions in Bitcoin output descriptors, covering hex keys, WIF, xpubs, derivation paths, and script context rules.

PDF document · Published October 24, 2026 

[ Open the PDF (6 pages, 377 KB) ](/list-phrase/bip380-descriptor-key-expressions-hex-wif-and-bip32-2026-10-24-en.pdf) 

## Contents

1. Structure of a BIP380 Key Expression
2. Supported Key Formats
3. Script Contexts and Compatibility Constraints
4. Private Keys in Descriptors and Security
5. FAQ
6. Sources
7. BIP39 format examples
8. Reading a BIP39 phrase
9. See also

Keywords: 

output script descriptors · xpub · taproot

Topic: 

[BIP Standards: BIP39, BIP32, BIP44 and Beyond](/topics/bip-standards/)

## Guides on the same subject

- [BIP39 vs BIP32 vs BIP44: How the Seed Standards Fit Together](/crypto-seed-standards-bip39-vs-bip32-vs-bip44/)  
BIP39 makes the 12–24 words and the seed, BIP32 derives a tree of keys from it, and BIP44 sets each coin's path, such as m/44'/0'/0'/0/0.
- [Bitcoin Private Key Format: WIF, Base58 and Hex Explained](/private-key-btc/)  
A Bitcoin private key is a 256-bit number, usually shown in WIF: Base58 with a version byte, compression flag and checksum. Encoding steps and test vectors.
- [BIP 32 Explained: Hierarchical Deterministic Wallets](/bip-32/)  
BIP 32 defines HD wallets: one seed derives a tree of keys via chain codes and hardened or normal steps, and an xpub makes addresses without private keys.

One of the documents in the [Seed Phrase PDF Archive](/list-phrase/), listed on [archive page 13](/list-phrase/13/).