Difference between a blockchain and a traditional ledger?

olivia

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about what distinguishes a blockchain from a database. Blockchain is a database since it is a ledger that holds information in blocks. In the same way, a database preserves information in data structures such as tables.

A blockchain is, therefore, a database, but a database is not a blockchain. All of these systems have distinct purposes and can never be used interchangeably.

People who want to understand why blockchains and conventional databases are best for storing data must first understand the differences between the two.

Traditional Databases

Client-server network architecture is how traditional databases operate. In this case, a delegated authority retains storage ownership and may grant users or clients permission to change data stored on a centralised server. Since the authority is in charge of the files, it is possible that the records will be changed or even removed if security problems occur within the authority.

Blockchain Databases

Several shared networks make up blockchain databases. Any node helps with administration: they all check for recent updates to the blockchain and can apply new data to the database. A majority of nodes must reach consensus before an addition to the blockchain can be created. This consensus process ensures the network’s stability and makes it impossible to hack.

Transparency and Integrity

Public verifiability, provided by honesty and openness, is a core feature of blockchain technology that separates it from traditional database technology.

Integrity: Any consumer should be certain that the data they’re retrieving hasn’t been tampered with or tinkered with after it was registered.

Transparency: any person can see how the blockchain has developed over time.

Read and Write Operations vs. CRUD Operations

A client can execute four functions on data in a standard database: create, read, update, and delete (collectively known as the CRUD commands).

The blockchain was created as an append-only system. Only more data in the form of additional blocks can be added by the user. The prior data is saved indefinitely and cannot be changed. As a result, the following are the only operations aligned with blockchains:

Read Operations: these operate on the blockchain to query and retrieve data.

Write Operations: These are operations that bring additional data to the blockchain.

Writing and Validating

The blockchain allows for two functions: transaction authentication and transaction writing. A transaction is a process that modifies the status of data on the blockchain. While the state of the data in previous entries on the blockchain must still remain the same, a new entry has the ability to alter the state of the data in previous entries.

Wrapping up

The threats of authoritarian management are eliminated with decentralised control. Anyone with enough access to a centralised database will delete or corrupt the information contained within. Users are also dependent on the database administrator’s protection infrastructure.

To get around this issue, blockchain technology employs decentralised data storage, which incorporates encryption into its very nature.

Although blockchain technology is well-suited to storing certain types of data, conventional databases are best suited to storing other types of data. Before choosing a database, any company must first determine what it needs from one and compare that to the strengths and weaknesses of each type of database.

Now that you got a run at it, you can clearly see the growing stature of blockchain technology and blockchain professional in the market. What are you waiting for then? It’s about time to search how to learn blockchain and get started with the journey.