How to understand some confusing concepts in blockchain in a simple and easy way

We often hear the term blockchain, and we hear many people in and outside the industry constantly mentioning it. It seems to be very popular. There are also many articles introducing blockchain on the Internet, but many friends say that the more they read, the more confused they become.

In fact, there is a little secret here. Blockchain actually represents some different meanings in different contexts. The author will explain them one by one here.

Blockchain is not a single concept, but a mixture of several concepts. It is composed of blockchain concept, blockchain technology, blockchain data, blockchain storage structure and blockchain network. Let me try to explain these concepts to you.

Block

A data block in which the information stored is considered complete. The internal information contains the characteristic value of another block and a series of self-defined information. As long as your software can recognize and understand it, the information content is not strictly limited. Blocks generally have a fixed upper limit.

Blockchain storage structure

A chain storage method in which many blocks are linked in sequence.

Features:

1. The next block contains the feature information and signature information of the previous block

2. The signature information comes from an independent secret key.

3. Any modification to any block except the last block will cause the chain to break, and all blocks after the modified chain will not be recognized.

4. The size of information contained in a single block varies, but there are limits. Taking Bitcoin as an example, it is 1M bytes.

5. Since a single block contains the characteristic information of the previous block, the blocks form a unified chain storage structure, which is the blockchain storage structure.

6. The blockchain itself has no restrictions on storage methods. It can be a file, a database, or even a part of a file. As long as the information block with the above characteristics can be recognized by the software, it can be called a block.

The above content can define the storage structure of the blockchain, which is often simplified to blockchain. Let’s use it to make a sentence:

We intend to use blockchain (storage structure) for storage to ensure that the information cannot be tampered with arbitrarily.

Blockchain data

The information stored using the blockchain storage structure is called blockchain data. People tend to pay more attention to the meaning and signature of the information in the entire blockchain data. In this concept, information is the subject and blockchain is the form. To make a sentence with it:

Download the Bitcoin blockchain (data) from the Internet and you can slowly analyze the secrets contained in it.

Blockchain Technology

The general term for a collection of technologies that use blockchain storage structures to store blockchain data and use a distributed P2P model to verify each other. It can be understood as a technical concept. There is no authoritative organization in the world that defines its specifications. It is a bit like the Internet technology of the past. You can use ipx, ethernet, tokenring, or hundreds of different standards that exist at the same time, as long as the purpose of computer interconnection can be achieved.

The current standard blockchain technology is based on Bitcoin, but a large number of organizations, companies and individuals have conducted multi-faceted discussions and extensions, so it is difficult to accurately determine whether a technology is blockchain technology.

For example

1. A central server that uses blockchain storage to provide services, is this blockchain technology?

2. Using storage services provided by cloud sharing technology, can the blockchain data stored become blockchain technology?

3. If blockchain data is stored in a database but the query port is public, is it considered blockchain technology?

4. Is the technology that stores blockchain data publicly on a public cloud platform but requires multiple parties to sign each time considered blockchain technology?

Generally, Bitcoin fundamentalists define everything as not counting, but other explorers believe that as long as the purpose can be achieved, this or that difference can be tolerated.

Too many explorations and attempts are now emerging, and no truly authoritative organization has been formed. Therefore, the author cannot give a complete and authoritative definition, and it depends on the readers to judge for themselves.

But it's obvious when you hear something like this:

When we say “let’s discuss the application of blockchain (technology) in the banking field”, the blockchain here must refer to blockchain technology.

Blockchain Network

A blockchain network is a computer network that uses blockchain technology and consists of multiple servers or independent hosts that automatically reach consensus with each other. This network can provide services to the outside world, add or delete nodes, is adaptive, and is strong enough to not be easily invaded or damaged. The blockchain network is the only entity in the various meanings of blockchain and the cornerstone of all other meanings. Without a blockchain network, it is difficult to achieve the true purpose of blockchain technology. The scale of a blockchain network can be large or small, which is related to the consensus mechanism between computers. The Bitcoin blockchain network is large, but there are only more than 1,000 nodes. Most of the algorithms are attached to these nodes, which is also due to its consensus mechanism.

The sentence of blockchain network is:

Once you upload your information to the blockchain (network), the information will be fixed and no one can modify it.

Blockchain concept

The concept of blockchain is a more metaphysical concept. If your system uses certain blockchain features, meets certain blockchain technology requirements, or even just uses a blockchain storage structure in terms of storage, people can often claim that their application is a blockchain application.

The "blockchain" here actually describes more of a concept, or a definition. Perhaps a protocol will be derived in the future, but as of now, there is no dedicated authoritative organization to define the blockchain protocol, so I can only call it a concept here.

The meaning of this concept is relatively vague and covers a wide range. In a broad sense, anything that uses a blockchain storage structure can be called a blockchain application. A relatively strict and narrow interpretation is an application built on a blockchain network.

The ambiguity of concepts often causes confusion for developers, but it is indeed the best opportunity for collisions to generate sparks.

So let's finally make a sentence:

Let the blockchain come more fiercely. (NABA North American Blockchain/Sunfire)