Ethereum: What is the “Confirmation” field in a block?
The confirmation field, also known as the « confirmation » or « consensus » field, plays a key role in Ethereum’s consensus mechanism. In this article, we’ll dive into what Ethereum block confirmation means and why it’s essential to the blockchain.
What is the confirmation field?
In Ethereum, every new block must be verified by the network using complex mathematical calculations called « proof-of-work » (PoW). The first block created on the blockchain is then added to a list of existing blocks. To add a new block to this list, it must be verified and confirmed by multiple nodes on the network.
The confirmation field is essentially a status message that indicates whether or not a new block has been successfully verified. It’s usually displayed as a simple value (e.g. « 0 », « 1 », « 2 », etc.) indicating the number of confirmations required to accept the block.
What is the meaning of the confirmation field?
The confirmation field serves several purposes:
- Verification: The confirmation field ensures that a new block has been verified by multiple nodes on the network, making it a secure and trustworthy addition to the blockchain.
- Trust
: By showing the number of confirmations required to accept a block, users can trust that the new block is valid and has not been tampered with or altered during transmission.
- Consensus: The confirmation field helps maintain consensus among nodes on the network, ensuring that everyone agrees on the validity of new blocks.
How many confirmations are needed?
In Ethereum, each block must be confirmed by at least 3 out of 4 nodes on the network to be added to the list of existing blocks. This is known as a « quorum. » Each node validates one block and sends it to the network for consensus. When a new block reaches this quorum, it is considered confirmed and added to the blockchain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the confirmation field in Ethereum plays a vital role in maintaining the security, trust, and validity of the blockchain. By displaying the number of confirmations required to accept a block, users can ensure that they are dealing with a valid and trustworthy addition to the network. Understanding the importance of the confirmation field is essential for anyone interested in learning about Ethereum and its underlying technology.
Additional Resources
If you would like to learn more about Ethereum and its consensus mechanism, I recommend you check out:
- The Ethereum Whitepaper: « The Ethereum Whitepaper »
- Ethereum GitHub Page: [
- Online tutorials and courses on Ethereum and blockchain development.