bitcoin address question

[charmgem]

ok I'm more used to using ethereum.  If I use my address I send a transaction and there is a balance left in that address. Simple enough

Now when I use electrum wallet with  multiple addresses.  now say I have 5 bitcoins in one address. But if I make a transaction of 1 bitcoin, why does the remaining balance of 4 move to another address.  Is there a way for it to stay in the same address?

[SFR10]

now say I have 5 bitcoins in one address. But if I make a transaction of 1 bitcoin, why does the remaining balance of 4 move to another address.

Because the change is being sent to a change address (it's for your own "privacy").

Is there a way for it to stay in the same address?

Yes (depending on the wallet, the steps might be different [not sure if all of the wallets, allow you to change it though]).
- Which wallet you're using?

[TryNinja]

Is there a way for it to stay in the same address?

Tools -> Preferences -> Transactions -> Uncheck "Use change addresses";

This will make the wallet send the change back to the address of origin (IIRC).

[pooya87]

this has nothing to do with being Ethereum or bitcoin. it is all about Address Reuse (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Address_reuse) and preventing it. the reason why Electrum sends the remaining funds to a new address is to prevent Address Reuse. and the fact that your Ethereum wallet doesn't do that is because they haven't implemented such a thing in that particular wallet but they should have.

addresses (bitcoin or any other altcoin which is similar to bitcoin) are single use tokens. you can use them many times but you are not supposed to.