I have been here for a while now, but I chose to study the technical aspects of bitcoin before I can move forward to any other part of it. I find this question difficult to comprehend, and I need more clarification about it.

The basic script for a lightning network HTLC output has a conditional branch, which requires a user to know the preimage of a hash. It also requires the user to give a valid signature, but it got me thinking: what if, before P2SH was a thing (back in the day), a user created a locking script that just so happens to match the P2SH template? For whatever reason, the user only intended to lock the bitcoin with a "spender must know the preimage of this hash" requirement. But this preimage is not a bitcoin script itself, so it can't be executed even though it matches the P2SH template. Do P2SH-knowing nodes lock this bitcoin forever?

Since I believe it will be better if I first understand bitcoin's technical side before I proceed on the forum, I am currently beginning my journey with it from a technical standpoint.
But as I was researching, I found out that I first needed to download a file called the bitcoin core in order to start storing my bitcoin. In light of this, I want to know if there is any other way to store bitcoin besides downloading the core. And which is safer.

And if there is, I'd love it if the senior members could assist me with it. It seems to me that utilising the bitcoin core on a mobile device won't be much easier for me, so please let me know if you know of any way to store my bitcoin without downloading the complete bitcoin core.

I have came across some questions today while I’m reading some areas of bitcoin, these are the list of my questions.

1. What is the procedure for purchasing and selling Bitcoin, and are there any crucial elements to take into account before beginning?

2. I'd appreciate an explanation of how Bitcoin mining functions and how it maintains the security and reliability of the Bitcoin network.

3. Why is using Bitcoin better than using conventional currencies?

Many thanks to all of you for your explanation.

As you can see I'm new to the forum and have made the decision to become more knowledgeable about the technical parts of bitcoin technology before I start my trips with bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. How do I make a new wallet? What exchange can I trust?

The second question is: What makes a signscript and witness different in a transaction, and what are they used  for? What will I be using them for if I want to use bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that call for a signscript and a witness?

I’m a brand new in the forum so please I want the senior member to help me out on how I can operate in forum without offense and some links that I can use to read about bitcoin.

Thanks in advance