Block Header
A block header is a component of a blockchain that stores metadata about the block. It is the first line of a block and is also known as a block header hash. It contains information such as the block height, the timestamp, the hash of the previous block, the nonce, and the difficulty target. The block header is used to identify and verify the block and is also used to link the blocks together in the blockchain.
History of Block Header
The concept of a block header was first introduced in 2008 when Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin whitepaper. In the whitepaper, Nakamoto described the block header as a “hash of a block of items to be timestamped and added to the chain”. The block header is an essential component of the blockchain and is used to identify and verify each block in the chain.
The block header is also used to link the blocks together in the blockchain. Each block contains the hash of the previous block, which is used to link the blocks together. This ensures that the blockchain is immutable and that all blocks are securely linked together.
Comparison Table
| Block Header | Block Height | Timestamp | Previous Block Hash | Nonce | Difficulty Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Summary
A block header is an essential component of a blockchain that stores metadata about the block. It contains information such as the block height, the timestamp, the hash of the previous block, the nonce, and the difficulty target. The block header is used to identify and verify the block and is also used to link the blocks together in the blockchain. For more information about block headers, you can visit websites such as Bitcoin.org, Blockchain.com, and Ethereum.org.
See Also
- Blockchain
- Mining
- Hash
- Nonce
- Difficulty Target
- Proof of Work
- Consensus Algorithm
- Cryptocurrency
- Block Reward
- Transaction Fee
