Back to New at Nirolution Blockchain Blog
Blockchain Technology Simply Explained
Blockchain is a digital transparent, public append, only ledger. So it ensures an unobstructed exchange of cryptocurrencies between a large number of members.
So the blockchain is nothing more than a digital finance ledger, in which all transactions of every member of the network are documented. So a mechanism behind the blockchain creates consensus between distributed unknown parties.
That means, nobody needs to trust each other, you only have to trust the blockchain system. As a result, you are able to transfer money without the need of third parties like banks. This makes your transaction not only faster but also cheaper.
Blockchain network
Today we will not focus on a specific network but rather concentrate on blockchain in general. Later on, we can build on that knowledge. So for now, we will work with a fictional network With it you can:
- Keep coins
- Send coins
If you want to manage your Coins, first you need a wallet. It works like your bank account. The account holds a singular address. It allows a unique assignment for transactions in the network. Therefore, there is always a recipient and a return address for each transaction.
Now the most important component: the actual network. It is decentralized which means that there is no central instance that regulates the data exchange. If you make a bank transfer during online banking, the bank transfers the information from our input device to the bank server. So after checking the transaction, the bank carries out the money exchange. It works completely different in our blockchain network. It is based on a peer-to-peer system, where central servers are omitted. Instead, there is a union of computers that create a decentralized network.
Anyone who wants to can connect their computer to the network. They then become a nodal point. So they can carry out tasks such as validating transactions or just transfer coins. Since not every computer provides the same hardware performance, there are various kinds of nodes. They are different in their responsibilities. More information on that later.
Blockchain Ledger
A ledger is a collection of transactions. So throughout history, everybody used pen and paper ledgers to keep track of the exchange of goods. In modern times, you use ledgers to digitally store your information.
Over time, the interest in a decentralized solution grows more and more. The reason for this is the lack of trust in the digital world. Security is also becoming increasingly important. Blockchain enables such an approach using both distributed ownership as well as a distributed physical architecture.
So to keep track of everything in our network, someone has to enter all transactions chronologically. Therefore, blockchain serves as a digital version of an open ledger. It is a database for the entire network by integrating all transactions from a fixed period in one block. After a certain amount of time, this block is digitally sealed and attached to the Blockchain. Thus, it provides a chronological listing of changes throughout the entire network. So the latest block always shows the most recent transaction.
Blockchain Block
Blockchain network users submit transactions to the blockchain network through software. So the software sends these transactions to a node within the blockchain network. The selected nodes then place the transaction in a block. Once the block has been validated and published, the transaction is part of the blockchain.
A blockchain block consists of different information. So first we have the Block Header. It contains the block number, also known as block height in some blockchain networks. Then the previous block header’s hash value and a hash representation of the block data. The block header also shows the size of the block and a nonce value. For blockchain networks that utilize mining, this is a number that is manipulated by the publishing node to solve the hash puzzle. Second, we have the block data. This contains a list of transactions and ledger events.
Blockchain Hashes
So, what are those hashes? In short: Exactly what makes Blockchain safe. Hash is a checksum derived from the block’s information. It is comparable to a digital fingerprint. In addition, each block still contains the checksum of the previous block. This creates a direct link between the blocks making it tamper-proof. So, a change to an already documented transaction would cause all successive checksum to be incorrect.
Blockchain Miner
A miner is a nodal point in our network. It is a computer or a union of computers. They provide the network with its hardware performance. So they validate incoming transactions and note them in the block. Our network verifies a block after a fixed time interval. All miners compete by solving a mathematical problem. The solution found is proof that the miner has performed his work.
The miner, who is the first to solve the puzzle, shares it with the entire network. He also receives a reward for his effort. Then the other miners check again if the block has been processed properly. So that the new block can be attached to the Blockchain. After that, the transaction is considered confirmed.
Blockchain components
We have already discussed the most important components:
- Blockchain Network
- Blockchain Ledger
- Hashes
- Blockchain Block
- Blockchain Miner
Now it is time to clarify the connections. The accounts can easily view as detached from the network. You can use them to send coins. Miners verify of all transactions. The Blockchain is the information storage in which everybody enters the transactions. Therefore, each miner has his own local copy of the entire Blockchain.
How does a Blockchain work?
We explain the interaction of the different components in the following example:
So Bob would like to send 10 Coins to Dave. For this, he starts a corresponding send request via a web client. This creates a transaction that communicates with the network.
The miners are busy creating a new block. They also check and document the transactions. As a result, a miner then creates a block, which is then added to the Blockchain.
In our example, a miner generates a new block. He documents all transactions including Bob’s one. So after a short time, the first miner who creates the block attaches it to the blockchain. After the miner did his work, the transaction is complete. Bob lost 10 Coins while Dave gained 10 coins.
Public vs Private Blockchain
Blockchain networks can be categorized based on their permission model which determines who can maintain them. So, if everyone can publish a new block, it is public. If only particular users can publish blocks, it is private. In simple terms, a private blockchain network is like a corporate intranet that is controlled, while a permissionless blockchain network is like the public internet, where anyone can participate. Therefore, private blockchain networks are often deployed for a group of organizations and individuals.
Public Blockchain
Public blockchain networks are decentralized ledger platforms open to anyone publishing blocks. They don´t need permission from any authority. So these blockchain platforms are often open source software, freely available to anyone who wishes to download them. Since anyone has the right to publish blocks, this results in the property that anyone can read the blockchain and issue transactions.
Therefore, any user that uses a public blockchain network can read and write to the ledger. Since public blockchain networks are open for everyone, malicious users may attempt to publish blocks in a way that subverts the system. To prevent this, public blockchain networks often use a consensus system. This requires users to use resources when publishing a block. So this prevents malicious users from easily destroying the system, because it is usually not financially worthwhile.
Private Blockchain
Private blockchain networks are ones where users have to be authorized by some authority. Since only authorized users are using the blockchain, it is possible to restrict read access and to restrict who can issue transactions. So, private networks may allow anyone to read the blockchain, or they may restrict read access to authorized individuals. They also may allow anyone, to submit transactions or, they may restrict this access only to certain individuals.
So, private blockchain networks can have the same traceability, performance, resilience, and capabilities as a public network. They also use consensus models for publishing blocks, but these methods often do not require the expense or maintenance of resources. This is because you need the identity of someone if he wants to join the network. They are also usually faster and you are able to obtain a certain degree of privacy in transactions.
Summarized: Blockchain Technology simply explained
- Blockchain is a transparent public append-only ledger
- It is a mechanism of creating consensus between distributed parties
- They don’t need to trust each other but trust the system
- Miner validate incoming transactions and note them in the block
- So transparency is one of the basic concepts of the Blockchain
Do you like our article “Blockchain Technology simply explained” and want to know more? If you want to be informed about the latest updates, follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Steemit.
Hey, That’s a nice and easy explanation of this emerging blockchain technology. I mean a huge blockchain wave has revolutionised the tech industry and other sectors too. Getting any useful piece of info on it sounds interesting.
awesome
This is Very useful information. Thank you for publishing this. I can understand this easily.
This is the easiest explanation on BLOCKCHAIN I’ve read. Thank you.
Thanks for the terrific post
Good web site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find excellent writing like yours these days.
I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
I think the admin of this website is genuinely working hard in favor of his website, as here every data is quality based
material.
I feel really happy to have seen your web page and look forward to so many more entertaining times reading here. Thanks once more for all the details.
You are in point of fact a just right webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It kind of feels that you’re doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic activity on this subject!
Really interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one. Keep posting. Thanks for sharing.
Data Science helps in combining the disruption into categories and communicating their potential, which allows data and analytics leaders to drive better results.
A very awesome blog post. We are really grateful for your blog post. You will find a lot of approaches after visiting your postdata science training in Hyderabad
“Thanks for the Information.Interesting stuff to read.Great Article.
I enjoyed reading your post, very nice share.
Nice and very informative blog, glad to learn something through you.
data science course in delhi
This is a great motivational article. In fact, I am happy with your good work. They publish very supportive data, really. Continue. Continue blogging. Hope you explore your next post
best data science courses
You totally coordinate our desire and the assortment of our data.
Wow, amazing post! Really engaging, thank you.
Wow, amazing post! Really engaging, thank you.
Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also.
Just saying thanks will not just be sufficient, for the fantastic lucidity in your writing. I will instantly grab your rss feed to stay informed of any updates.
I want to leave a little comment to support and wish you the best of luck.we wish you the best of luck in all your blogging enedevors.
I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You.
Thanks for such a great post and the review, I am totally impressed! Keep stuff like this coming.
Extraordinary post I should state and a debt of gratitude is in order for the data. Instruction is unquestionably a clingy subject. Be that as it may, is still among the main subjects within recent memory. I value your post and anticipate more.
Thanks for sharing nice information.
excellent site..
Cool you write, the information is very good and interesting, I’ll give you a link to my site.
Nice post. I’m impressed! Extremely useful information. Thank you and keep up the good work.whatsapp mod
I like this post, And I figure that they living it up to scrutinize this post, they may take a respectable site to make an information, thanks for sharing it to me Pretty great post…