Bitcoin Address vs Public Key please i need clarifications

Hello everyone, please i have a question borthering me as a newbie . What's the difference between a Bitcoin address and a public key? I know they're both used for receiving BTC, but what's the difference please im so confused.

Quote from: Chifather247 on February 19, 2026, 09:39:55 PM

A simple search would have helped you find all the answer to both question you are asking by creating multiple thread. That is the use of the forum search feature.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5565858.0

Quote from: Charles-Tim on November 19, 2025, 06:24:58 AM

The public key is generated by the private key.

The private key can generate the public key and the address.

The public key can only generate the address.

The address can not generate the public key.

For payment, you will give your bitcoin address to people, not public key.

The bitcoin public key starts from 02 or 03 or the old 04. Bitcoin address starts from 1, 3 or bc1.

Thank you so much i just learnt it now i rely appreciate 🙏

Quote from: Chifather247 on February 19, 2026, 09:39:55 PM

To add to what you have on that thread take note that wallets today don't support sending coins directly to your public keys because of the privacy risk involved. When someone has your public keys it simply means they have a list of all your possible generator addresses under that private key.

Understand that addresses are derived from public keys and since HD wallets were made to avoid security flaws given out the public keys means there's no need for change addresses concealing transactions.

In addition..
Short exp: Bitcoin Address is an encoded hash of a public key, making it shorter and easier to use.

In simpler terms, the public key is the internal code of your wallet that helps verify the signature.

On the other hand, the address is the address of your wallet through which others can send money to your wallet. There is also a difference in length, one is long and the other is short.

Quote from: Chifather247 on February 19, 2026, 09:39:55 PM

[Guide] Bitcoin keys and addresses.

Bitcoin addresses can be used for receiving bitcoin, but it is like a mailbox at your home, you can receive it but if you don't have the home's key, you can not enter that house and can not send anything from the house to anywhere else.

https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/develop/ch04_keys.adoc
https://github.com/bitcoinbook/bitcoinbook/blob/develop/ch05_wallets.adoc

Quote from: Chifather247 on February 19, 2026, 09:39:55 PM

I know they're both used for receiving BTC, but what's the difference please im so confused.

Almost all wallets can not support this because the wallet developers know how vulnerable such coins can be from quantum computers in the future. The right way to receive coins is through the bitcoin address.

Quote from: promise444c5 on February 19, 2026, 11:20:21 PM

Short exp: Bitcoin Address is an encoded hash of a public key, making it shorter and easier to use.

Both are easier to use. It is just about copy and paste as long as a wallet is supporting it, but using public key is not advisable for security reason. In fact, wallets are not supporting it.

Quote from: Mia Chloe on February 19, 2026, 10:56:43 PM

It may be worth mentioning that once you make a transaction, your public key is revealed to the public and people can still know your public key.
So, it's not that if you give someone your address, they will never know your public key.