# Blockchain | Part 1

By [101's](https://paragraph.com/@lilchichi) · 2022-05-14

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> **_“Buzzword of the century, probably”_**

What is it?
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A simple explanation would be along the lines of:

"A blockchain is a database made up of blocks of information, that's shared across a number of computers, who make that work together to make sure the data isn't messed with by making constant checks"

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/897dd4be647b434439ab4ba2ba20059a0a7278f2694d24f03f010ad66a136445.jpg)

Ok, so how does that happen?
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*   The transaction is saved in a record (or receipt, however you visualise it best).
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/3c1ed9b8cd089c9694e630c7ec845dd18f4bd66dafe279de2e876f2c96a3d880.jpg)

*   The computers in the network (known as nodes) look at the record (receipt) and make sure that it is an actual trade or transaction.
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/dc083ad629004cdf9457d8edf4233b64b8a3306e1f4d738b51fe2163164fe6f1.jpg)

*   This is a decentralised process that occurs among the different nodes of the network called consensus, which means the computers/nodes will reach a decision.
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1616c0950147d6af9f7566f1ad38e3997369a553364ce9faf4d3823f3965534c.jpg)

*   As each transaction is verified and accepted as being real, it’s added to a block
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2e35447b08ecf9488445f75e1fde867d03a407634ed76abde32f77fbb152d20d.jpg)

*   Each block contains a code called a hash that is unique to that block. The block carries two hashes; one for the current block and another for the previous block, making \*drumroll\* chain of blocks! _That way we always know what order the blocks should be located in the chain._
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/b1596c1b1773a81bbe1f6fa054af46d1ecdc00495f37d371f3e0b7bad519db37.jpg)

*   Once the block is complete it is added to the chain with the hashes. This means they are stored in the correct order.
    

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/6dc289264f1933b6b6be9377b0c7e1b12c6a6a3ac89fe4309d68dd804d02d52f.jpg)

After those explanations & the work of art, you might have a rudimentary idea of what a blockchain is & how it works … If not, welcome to the party where we are all clueless.

If you'd like to dig a little further, check out 👉 [Blockchain | Part 2](https://mirror.xyz/lilchichi.eth/LLGIzQx8yVrqb-A8fpjv7m8wHg7Pzt3-YHV1cyv7wq8)

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*Originally published on [101's](https://paragraph.com/@lilchichi/blockchain-part-1)*