Question about Bitcoin with merit awards - block linkage in the blockchain

[nakamura12]

This seems so hard to answer but i'll try. It is like a family where the next hash block is identified by the identity of the previous block and the next block will also have same identity as the previous hash block. The linked hash blocks are like bloodline where it start from the parent to the son to the grandson and to the next generation and that's how the hash block linked to the previous hash block with the use of math algorithm and the algorithm used in bitcoin is SHA-256 mentioned on your previous thread about best popular algorithm.

[EternityFirst]

Hello everyone! Here are my thoughts about this question.
Blocks are linked one with another by containing an information about previous one. As guys above have written, it containes in block`s header (according to the Bitcoin Wiki, too) in a form of hash. I can only add, that a "nonce" is a number, that everyone is looking for solving that mathematical puzzle. And a first one to find it will get a prize and here comes the new block. This mathematical puzzle, that I mentioned earlier may have several resolutions and as we know, a great amount of computers are working on it. So, sometimes it happens that couple of participants are finding different results that are matching. So they begin to build following blocks based on previous results. And there are 2 versions of a blockchain in that moment of time. It lasts till one of chains become "longer" for some reason. Then all blockchain refreshes and "longer" chain become "true" one (ak "main"). Usually it takes around 3 blocks to identify which way blockchain will go. That`s why a conception of "confirmation" exists. One confarmation is one block built at the top of one, that contains details of your transaction. So where do block of "shorter" blockchain goes? Nowhere. They are just abandoned. That`s why that one`s are often called "orphaned blocks" - valid blocks, that are not a part of a main Bitcoin blockchain.

[Jet Cash]

Thanks for all the replies, there is an interesting mix of ideas and opinions in them.

I'll open this thread for anyone to post replies. It will be interesting to see the comments from senior members.

[vladimirhf]

Here we go with another merit giveaway thread. Once again the awards are to be given to new and junior members only. The thread will be self-moderated, and when one topic is answered, I'll add another topic. Spamming and very low value answers will be deleted. All replies must be original, and not copied from other sources. If you don't know the answer, then Google the question and read about it. When you think you understand the topic, then post the answer in your own words. So here is the first question.

The Bitcoin blockchain is constructed from a sequence of linked blocks. Please explain how the blocks are linked

Thread restarted because i forgot to make it self-moderated. The merit awards will be in the range of 1 - 5 based on the comprehensiveness ofyour answers.

each block contains a reference to the previous block, that's why it's called "chain"

[vladimirhf]

I wondered if somebody would introduce orphan blocks.

It's become quite an interesting discussion, and I'll reread the posts shortly. I'm also thinking of opening the thread to senior members once the post count has passed 50.

Orphaned blocks are valid blocks which are not part of the main chain. They can occur naturally when two miners produce blocks at similar times or they can be caused by an attacker (with enough hashing power) attempting to reverse transactions.

reference: https://www.blockchain.com/en/btc/orphaned-blocks

[Jet Cash]

This seems to be a good point to list the contents of the block header, or maybe not, it looks terrible if I copy and paste.

You can find it on this page.

https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-reference#block-headers

[vladimirhf]

This seems to be a good point to list the contents of the block header, or maybe not, it looks terrible if I copy and paste.

You can find it on this page.

https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-reference#block-headers

when a header is classified as alternative in cardano blockchain?