Database
A database is a collection of organized data that can be accessed at any time. A client/server arrangement is common in databases. The database is normally stored on a central system, and a group of customers makes use of its services. A database management system is a piece of software that allows you to access databases (DBMS). The database is set up in such a way that before anyone can access it, they must first authenticate themselves. If the client’s identity is verified, permission will be granted for the client’s request, or it will be denied, based on the access control list. Adding a new record, removing a record, modifying a record, and calling up a record are the four types of requests. Any flaw in the access control procedure lays the groundwork for cyber-attacks and database manipulation. Users have no involvement in database administration because it is done centrally. Relational and non-relational databases are the two most common types of databases. Tables make up relational databases, and each table’s columns are referred to as fields. Data is entered into the table’s rows, and each row is referred to as a record. Records are linked to one another using table relationships. In non-relational databases, data is frequently stored using a key/value format, therefore tables with specific columns aren’t necessary.
Blockchain
The Blockchain is a system made up of a chain of blocks, as the name suggests. Each block has two parts: a header and a body. The block’s stored data is contained in the body, whereas the header is made up of a group of fields. The meaning of each of the Bitcoin header fields, for example, is discussed in the following sections.
– Version: This parameter identifies the Blockchain’s version.
– Preceding block header’s hash: this field contains the previous block header’s hash value.
– Merkle Root: this field contains the result of applying the Merkle root algorithm to all of the data in the block body’s stores. Transactions are the data in Bitcoin. The integrity of the stored data in the block can be evaluated using the Merkle root.
– Timestamp: this field indicates the date and time the block was created.
– Difficulty target: this parameter indicates the block’s difficulty target. The difficulty target is a parameter that allows the PoW method to change the task difficulty.
– Nonce: this field indicates how many times miners have attempted to solve the PoW puzzle.
– Hash Block: every block has a unique hash value. In addition to the other amount of header fields, this hash is computed using the Merkle root and the previous block’s hash value. The hash value of the previous block is used to generate the new hack block, allowing blocks to communicate with one another. In fact, hash represents the same concept as the chain in Blockchain in this way of calculation.
Other popular Blockchains have a structure that is comparable to that of Bitcoin, which was just released. All of these Blockchain structures have one thing in common: they all store data in the body and connect blocks by utilizing the previous block’s hash value to generate the current block’s hash. Unlike traditional databases, Blockchain data is not stored in a central system and is not managed centrally. Their management and maintenance are done in a distributed manner with the help of a set of nodes, hence the term “distributed.” When a new block is added to the Blockchain, it requires consensus, and tampering with or removing it becomes difficult. Consensus methods are used to get an agreement to add a new block in a variety of ways. In the Blockchain framework, the PoW and PoS protocols are two well-known consensus protocols. Unlike traditional databases, Blockchain data is not stored in a central system and is not managed centrally. Their management and maintenance are done in a distributed manner with the help of a set of nodes, hence the term “distributed.” When a new block is added to the Blockchain, it requires consensus, and tampering with or removing it becomes difficult. Consensus methods are used to get an agreement to add a new block in a variety of ways. In the Blockchain framework, the PoW and PoS protocols are two well-known consensus protocols. The hash algorithm is used to ensure that blocks are not tampered with. Any alteration with a block’s data is accomplished by recalculating the Merkle root. The difference between the new Merkle root and the prior Merkle root indicates that the data of that block has been tampered with. On the other hand, deleting a block modifies the hash of all subsequent blocks. The deletion or tampering with a block is quickly recognized if the chain of blocks is not kept in a centralized form in a trustless area between users.
It can be difficult to comprehend, particularly when you’re in the initial phases of exploring. This is a guide to blockchain terminology to assist you in navigating the exciting world of Web3.
Depending on the application, any of the two methods of storing a traditional database and Blockchain have capabilities that become more important. In the sections that follow, we’ll compare traditional databases to Blockchain from several angles.
Central Control
They who do not trust each other can share data on Blockchain, whereas in a traditional database, users must trust the institution that manages and controls it. There is always the possibility of data being altered with by the person who has the required permissions in traditional databases, but in Blockchain, there is no central control and new data is added through consensus protocols. A system’s central control can be viewed as a negative. If this centre is attacked for any reason, or if there is a problem with it, the entire system will be affected, which will affect all users. In Blockchain, however, a problem that affects one node will not affect other nodes in the network.
Immutability
The data in a traditional database can be updated or erased. In contrast, in Blockchain, data is stored from the beginning and is immutable and cannot be destroyed.
Performance
When compared to traditional databases, the process of producing a new block in the Blockchain has some constraints that slow down data storage. The set rate of fresh block creation and the limiting block volume are two of the limits that slow down Blockchain’s performance in terms of speed. The block creation rate of Bitcoin, for example, is one block every ten minutes. Each Bitcoin block, on the other hand, is no more than 1MB in size. Each block contains around two to three thousand transactions, based on the typical size of Bitcoin transactions. Given these figures, the speed of Bitcoin transactions is a single digit, but existing non-Blockchain systems process and store transactions at a far higher pace.
Confidentiality
Controlling who has access to records in a traditional database is simple to do. Implementing access authorization for each user is simple in a database, but the database does not allow any user to view the database’s contents without confirmation, whereas with Blockchain, all users have access to information from the start. As a result, Blockchain is unlikely to be a good fit for applications that require a high level of anonymity and secrecy. However, there are currently deployed Blockchain solutions for providing confidentiality that are being used. Monero is one of the most well-known Blockchains that has been able to ensure data secrecy against illicit users. The amount, receiver, and sender of a transaction are all hidden from others in Monero’s Blockchain. From a different perspective, the availability of information to all Blockchain users can be examined. All users who have access to Blockchain can contribute to system transparency, which can be advantageous in some cases.
Written by Pooyan Ghamari
Founder of Counos Platform
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