Blockchain For Dummies

Chapter 1

Introducing Blockchain

IN THIS CHAPTER

Discovering the new world of blockchains

Understanding why they matter

Identifying the three types of blockchains

Deepening your knowledge of how blockchains work

Originally, blockchain was just the computer science term for how to structure and share data. Today blockchains are hailed the “fifth evolution” of computing.

Blockchains are a novel approach to the distributed database. The innovation comes from incorporating old technology in new ways. You can think of blockchains as distributed databases that a group of individuals controls and that store and share information.

There are many different types of blockchains and blockchain applications. Blockchain is an all-encompassing technology that is integrating across platforms and hardware all over the world.

Beginning at the Beginning: What Blockchains Are

A blockchain is a data structure that makes it possible to create a digital ledger of data and share it among a network of independent parties. There are many different types of blockchains.

• Public blockchains: Public blockchains, ...