Blocks, Hashes, and Chains Explained in Simple Terms
Blocks, Hashes, and Chains – Explained in Simple Terms
Let’s break down the three main components of blockchain in a way that’s easy to understand:
๐ฆ 1. Block – Like a Digital Record Book Page
Think of a block as a page in a notebook.
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Each block stores a list of transactions (like who sent what to whom).
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It also contains a timestamp and some important reference data.
๐ Example:
A block might say:
"Ravi sent ₹100 to Priya on July 3rd, 2025, at 10:00 AM"
๐ 2. Hash – Like a Digital Fingerprint
A hash is a unique digital code that represents the contents of a block.
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It's created by running all the block data through a math formula (called a hashing algorithm).
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Even a small change in the block will completely change its hash.
๐ Think of it like this:
If a block is a sentence, its hash is like a fingerprint of that sentence. Change one word, and the fingerprint totally changes.
⛓️ 3. Chain – Linking the Blocks Together
Each block doesn’t just sit alone. It links to the previous block using its hash — forming a chain of blocks, or a blockchain.
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Block 2 contains the hash of Block 1
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Block 3 contains the hash of Block 2
…and so on.
๐ Why?
Because if someone changes Block 1, its hash changes, and that breaks the link in Block 2 — making tampering obvious.
๐งฉ Putting It All Together
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Transactions go into a block
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That block gets a hash (digital fingerprint)
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The block is linked to the one before it
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Together, they form a secure chain called the blockchain
This makes blockchain transparent, tamper-proof, and trustworthy without needing a central authority.
✅ Summary in 1 Line Each:
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Block = Holds transaction data
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Hash = Unique fingerprint of the block
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Chain = Blocks linked in order to keep everything secure
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