What is Blockchain?

 

This article will cover WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN, WHY BLOCKCHAIN IS UNLIKE OTHER DATABASES, MINERS, NODES.

Blockchain is nothing but a shared, immutable database that stores data in blocks that are chained together.

WHY IS BLOCKCHAIN, UNLIKE OTHER DATABASES?

Before talking about why blockchain is unlike other databases, first let’s understand what a database is.

  WHAT IS A DATABASE?

A database is a collection of electronically structured data, generally stored in a computer system.

Let’s consider Facebook. Facebook stores, manipulates and validates data related to friends, posts, likes, comments, shares, etc. There are enormous amounts of examples for the usage of databases.

 Why is Blockchain, unlike other databases?

The main difference between Blockchain and database is that Blockchain is decentralized, and the database is centralized. This distinctive feature makes it more secure than other databases.

 Two Key Features of Blockchain

DISTRIBUTED LEDGER

In simple words, distributed ledger means all the participants in a blockchain network have a copy of the database, so it becomes hard for someone who wants to illegally edit some data in the database. This decentralized database is also called Distributed Ledger Technology(DLT)

Immutability

None can change some data in the database which is already recorded.

 MINERS

Miners are the one who creates new blocks and add them to the database. This process is called mining.

In a blockchain, every block has its unique hash and the previous block’s hash in the chain. (In simple words, a hash is just a unique ID for every block). Miners use special software for the mining process, including complex math problems. Generally, graphics cards are used to solve these complex math problems.

 Node

As I mentioned, Blockchain is a decentralized database. That means nobody can own the chain. As an alternative, it is distributed between all the participants in the blockchain network. A Participant is nothing but a computer. This computer is called a node that maintains the ledger and keeps the blockchain network functioning.

 

This article will cover WHAT IS BLOCKCHAIN, WHY BLOCKCHAIN IS UNLIKE OTHER DATABASES, MINERS, NODES.

Blockchain is nothing but a shared, immutable database that stores data in blocks that are chained together.

WHY IS BLOCKCHAIN, UNLIKE OTHER DATABASES?

Before talking about why blockchain is unlike other databases, first let’s understand what a database is.

  WHAT IS A DATABASE?

A database is a collection of electronically structured data, generally stored in a computer system.

Let’s consider Facebook. Facebook stores, manipulates and validates data related to friends, posts, likes, comments, shares, etc. There are enormous amounts of examples for the usage of databases.

 Why is Blockchain, unlike other databases?

The main difference between Blockchain and database is that Blockchain is decentralized, and the database is centralized. This distinctive feature makes it more secure than other databases.

 Two Key Features of Blockchain

DISTRIBUTED LEDGER

In simple words, distributed ledger means all the participants in a blockchain network have a copy of the database, so it becomes hard for someone who wants to illegally edit some data in the database. This decentralized database is also called Distributed Ledger Technology(DLT)

Immutability

None can change some data in the database which is already recorded.

 MINERS

Miners are the one who creates new blocks and add them to the database. This process is called mining.

In a blockchain, every block has its unique hash and the previous block’s hash in the chain. (In simple words, a hash is just a unique ID for every block). Miners use special software for the mining process, including complex math problems. Generally, graphics cards are used to solve these complex math problems.

 Node

As I mentioned, Blockchain is a decentralized database. That means nobody can own the chain. As an alternative, it is distributed between all the participants in the blockchain network. A Participant is nothing but a computer. This computer is called a node that maintains the ledger and keeps the blockchain network functioning.

 

 

 

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