The problems of civil law contract definition

The article notes the increasing role of the civil law contract as an instrument of self-regulation. Taking into account the relevance and on the basis of the analysis of the major doctrinal positions, the paper explores the concept of "contract". The author takes stock of the traditional definition of the contract through the "agreement" term, advancing arguments discrediting the correctness of this position. Considering the contract as a multidimensional, but nevertheless, integral phenomenon, and based on the synthesis of identified features, the author offers an original definition of the "contract".