Skip to content

Block

What is a block?

Block: A data structure that describes and authorizes the execution of a batch of transactions (state transitions) on the blockchain.

Blockchain: A broad term that can refer to:

  • The canonical sequence or 'chain' of blocks and the raw data directly available in this sequence, for example: block hashes, transactions, and events.
  • The above, but further including data that is derivable from raw block data. This includes, most prominently, the world state.
  • The network of full nodes and light clients that maintain the correctness and consistency of the blockchain data structure.

What's in a block?

  • Blockchain ID - Id of the blockchain
  • Block version number - Version number of the block
  • Timestamp - Unix timestamp (number of seconds since 1970-01-01)
  • Previous block hash - Block hash of previous block
  • This block hash - Block hash of this block
  • State root hash - Merkle Tree root hash of current world-state
  • Transaction root hash - Merkle Tree root hash of transactions
  • Receipt root hash - Merkle Tree root hash of receipts
  • Proposer public key - Public key of proposer
  • Signature on the block header - A digital Signature on the block header
  • Transactions - the transactions included in the block
  • Receipts - the execution result of transactions which are included in the block
Back to top