What is the blockchain?

[CodingCentre]

I'm new and not very well informed so I want to know how a service like blockchain.info gathers its information? where does it get the data from of all the transactions? A node? if so does that mean anyone running a full node can monitor the whole blockchain via their local machine? How would you do this? Is there anyway I can monitor the blockchain that means all transactions without using a third party site like blockchain.info or any other block explorer?

[newIndia]

To answer the title of the topic, blockchain is a decentralized public ledger.

For the rest in details, please start from https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/FAQ

[cr1776]

I'm new and not very well informed so I want to know how a service like blockchain.info gathers its information? where does it get the data from of all the transactions? A node? if so does that mean anyone running a full node can monitor the whole blockchain via their local machine? How would you do this? Is there anyway I can monitor the blockchain that means all transactions without using a third party site like blockchain.info or any other block explorer?

1. Yes, it gathers it by running a node.
2. Yes, anyone running a full node can monitor it with software that understands the protocol.
3. Yes, run a full node and then use software to monitor the parts you wish to monitor.

In short, you can run a full node and then write your own or use open source block explorer type software.  If you are looking for something out of the box, requiring no technical knowledge, that probably isn't out there right now.

[orsotheysaid]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

[WX_Gunny]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

[maurya78]

a gigantic, decentralised ledger that is beyond manipulation or alteration

[Muhammed Zakir]

I'm new and not very well informed so I want to know how a service like blockchain.info gathers its information? where does it get the data from of all the transactions? A node? if so does that mean anyone running a full node can monitor the whole blockchain via their local machine? How would you do this? Is there anyway I can monitor the blockchain that means all transactions without using a third party site like blockchain.info or any other block explorer?

1. Yes, it gathers it by running a node.
2. Yes, anyone running a full node can monitor it with software that understands the protocol.
3. Yes, run a full node and then use software to monitor the parts you wish to monitor.

In short, you can run a full node and then write your own or use open source block explorer type software.  If you are looking for something out of the box, requiring no technical knowledge, that probably isn't out there right now.

You can find an opensource block explorer called Abe. I there is guides out there. You can use it and create a better one.

Theread : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=22785.0
Github : https://github.com/bitcoin-abe/bitcoin-abe

   ~~MZ~~

[Salmon1989]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

If you mean "dogechain.info" and blockchain.info", then yes.
dogechain.info is a site monitoring the dogecoin blockchain, just like how blockchain.info is montoring the bitcoin blockchain.

[Amph]

blockchain is like all the road infrastructure, where all the cars are traveling

[poisenrang]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

blockchain is for bitcoins only

[findftp]

a gigantic, decentralised ledger that is beyond manipulation or alteration

Every time I read it I'm impressed.
It's such a beautiful invention.
For the first time in history history itself is able to be accurate!

[findftp]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

More or less yes, they have some different parameters.
Many people think they should join those coins because they think they were too late for bitcoin.
There is much debate around it and nobody is right yet. Time will tell. But I have my own strong opinion on it though.

[Muhammed Zakir]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

blockchain is for bitcoins only

If you're telling about Blockchain.info, then yes, you are right! But if you are telling about block chain, sorry! Block chain is used in all cryptocurrencies AFAIK. its is the public ledger of the coin, I can't imagine a cryptocurrency without it!

   ~~MZ~~

[sgk]

If you are like me then you'll learn better with visual and audio, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tVaA57sP9k

thanks for link
dogechain and litechain working same as blockchain?

Every crypto currency has its own block chain.
Transactions for Bitcoins are stored in Bitcoin's block chain. Transactions for Dogecoin are stored in Dogecoin's block chain and so on...

There are different ways to access these block chains.
You can you many of the available sites (blockchain.info, blockexplorer etc.. just Google) to view Bitcoin's block chain (public ledger).
Other currencies have their own explorers, you can find references on official sites of those coins.

[WX_Gunny]

thank you all guys!