Ethereum: What is the «confirmation» field in the block?
The confirmation field, also known as a confirming or consensus field, plays a key role in the Ethereum consensus mechanism. In this article, we will deepen what means that the Ethereum block will be confirmed and why it is necessary for blockchain.
What is a confirming field?
In Ethereum, each new block must be checked by the network using complex mathematical calculations called «proof of work» (Jed). Then the first block created on blockchain is added to the list of existing blocks. To add a new block to this list, it should be checked and confirmed by many nodes on the web.
The confirmation field is essentially a status report that shows whether the new block has been successfully checked or not. This is usually displayed as a simple value (eg «0», «1», «2» etc.) shows the number of confirmations required to collect the block.
What is the meaning of the confirmation field?
The confirmation field serves several purposes:
- Verification : The confirmation field guarantees that the new block is checked by many nodes on the web, which makes it a safe and reliable addition to blockchain.
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How many confirmations are needed?
In Ethereum, each block must be confirmed by at least 3 out of 4 nodes in the network, which are to be added to the list of existing blocks. This is known as «quorum». Each node checks one block and sends it to the consensus network. After the new block reaches this quorum, it is considered confirmed and added to blockchain.
Application
To sum up, the confirmation field in Ethereum plays an important role in maintaining security, trust and validity of blockchain. By showing the number of confirmations required to collect the block, users can make sure that they are dealing with an important and reliable access to the network. Understanding the importance of confirmation field is necessary for everyone interested in learning Ethereum and its main technology.
Additional resources
If you want to learn more about Ethereum and his consensus mechanism, I recommend checking:
- Ethereum white frame: «Ethereum service»
- GitHub page Ethereum: [ chance: //github.com/ethereum/EIPS)
- Online development courses ethereum and blockchain.