Blockchain is explained in one sentence: a distributed accounting system based on cryptographic algorithms, consensus mechanisms, point-to-point transmission, mathematics, computer programming and other technologies.
1. The birth and evolution of blockchain
In 2008, a cryptographer named Satoshi Nakamoto published an article "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" (Chinese translation: Bitcoin: A peer-to-peer electronic cash system) The white paper that began the era of Bitcoin (BTC).
On January 3, 2009, the first genesis block with serial number 0 was born. A week later, on January 9, the block with serial number 1 appeared, marking the birth of the blockchain.
2. Explanation of terms related to blockchain
1) Satoshi Nakamoto: The founder of Bitcoin, his true identity is still unknown. Some people say they are Americans, who will control the world after issuing Bitcoin; others say they are Japanese, because Satoshi Nakamoto is more like a Japanese name; others say they are Chinese, because it can be understood that "Chinese people are inherently smart."
2) Block: In the blockchain network, data will be packaged and put together in the form of multiple files, similar to putting these files into a box, so it is also called a data block.
3) Chain: refers to blocks that are sorted in chronological order and connected in series through the hash values between the previous block and the next block. It is not a real chain, but a metaphor.
4) Block Header (Block Header) and Block Body (Block Body): It is an index. Fake blocks are divided into two parts: block header and block body.