General Blockchain Terms
- Blockchain: A cryptographically secured structure and technology enabling trusted information storage and processing without central authorities.
- Byzantine Fault: System failures beyond simple message delays, including message tampering or malicious node behavior that could deliberately disrupt operations.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network): Geographically distributed cache servers that accelerate content delivery by serving requests from nearby locations.
- Consensus: The process where distributed system participants agree on information validity, typically establishing event sequence order.
- Decentralization: Systems operating without central intermediaries, sometimes called multi-centralization.
- Distributed Systems: Architectures where multiple nodes collaborate to provide unified services without central control points.
- Distributed Ledger: Decentralized (or multi-centralized) record-keeping platforms maintained by participant groups.
- DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology): The technological framework enabling distributed ledgers, including blockchain and permission management systems.
- Fintech (Financial Technology): Technological innovations transforming financial services.
- Gossip Protocol: Peer-to-peer communication method where nodes randomly propagate information to neighbors.
- Market Depth: Indicator of a market's ability to handle large transactions without significant price fluctuations.
- MTBF/MTTR: Mean Time Between Failures (system reliability metric) and Mean Time To Repair (recovery efficiency metric).
- MVCC (Multi-Version Concurrency Control): Database technique using versioning to handle concurrent updates optimistically.
- P2P Networks: Decentralized communication networks where all nodes have equal status.
- SLA/SLI/SLO: Service Level Agreement/Indicator/Objective - metrics defining service reliability commitments.
Cryptography & Security Terms
- CA (Certificate Authority): PKI entity responsible for digital certificate issuance and management.
- CRL (Certificate Revocation List): Directory of revoked digital certificates.
- CSR (Certificate Signing Request): Application containing credential details for certificate issuance.
- Hash Algorithms: Functions converting arbitrary-length data into fixed-length digital fingerprints.
- Nonce: Cryptographic term for single-use random values preventing replay attacks.
- PKI (Public Key Infrastructure): Framework managing digital certificates and encryption systems.
- SM Algorithms: China's commercial cryptographic standards including SM2 (ECC), SM3 (hash), and SM4 (symmetric encryption).
Bitcoin & Ethereum Terms
- Bitcoin: The pioneering cryptocurrency implementing blockchain principles.
- DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization): Blockchain-based organizations governed by smart contracts.
- Lightning Network: Off-chain micro-payment solution enhancing transaction throughput.
- Mining: Computational process validating transactions and creating new cryptocurrency units.
- PoW/PoS: Proof of Work (mining-based) and Proof of Stake (ownership-based) consensus mechanisms.
- Smart Contracts: Self-executing agreements with terms written into blockchain code.
- Sybil Attack: Network subversion by creating multiple fake identities.
Hyperledger Fabric Terms
- Chaincode: Hyperledger's implementation of smart contracts supporting multiple programming languages.
- Channels: Private subnetworks enabling transaction confidentiality among participant nodes.
- Committer Nodes: Hyperledger peers validating ordered transactions before ledger commitment.
- Endorser Nodes: Peers verifying transaction validity according to chaincode policies.
- Ledger: Comprising both immutable transaction blockchain and current world state database.
- MSP (Member Service Provider): Modular component handling identity verification and credential management.
- Orderer Nodes: Consensus service nodes establishing transaction sequence order.
- World State: The current state database representing the latest ledger values.
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FAQ Section
What distinguishes blockchain from traditional databases?
Blockchain provides decentralized trust through cryptographic verification and immutable transaction recording, unlike centralized databases.
How does Hyperledger differ from public blockchains?
Hyperledger uses permissioned networks with modular architecture for enterprise use, prioritizing privacy over public accessibility.
What makes smart contracts "smart"?
They automatically execute when predefined conditions occur, eliminating intermediary dependencies through blockchain-enforced compliance.
Why is cryptographic hashing fundamental to blockchains?
Hashing creates tamper-evident data fingerprints enabling transaction integrity verification across distributed networks.
How do enterprises benefit from DLT?
Distributed ledger technology streamlines multi-party processes like trade finance while maintaining audit trails and reducing reconciliation needs.
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