Blockchain vs Linked list

Blockchain

Blockchains are one form of distributed ledger technology. Not all distributed ledgers employ a chain of blocks to provide a secure and valid distributed consensus. A blockchain is distributed across and managed by peer-to-peer networks. Since it is a distributed ledger, it can exist without a centralized authority or server managing it, and its data quality can be maintained by database replication and computational trust. However, the structure of the blockchain makes it distinct from other kinds of distributed ledgers. Data on a blockchain is grouped together and organized in blocks.

Learn more about: How Blockchain works? and  How blockchain will be the future of web?

Linked list

A linked list is a linear data structure, in which the elements are not stored at contiguous memory locations. A linked list is a linear data structure where each element is a separate object. It consists of nodes where each node contains a data field and a reference(link) to the next node in the list. It's a dynamic data structure. The number of nodes in a list is not fixed and can grow and shrink on demand. Any application which has to deal with an unknown number of objects will need to use a linked list.

In simple words, a blockchain is a series of blocks containing data and which has a hash number and a hash number of the previous block. That is how the chain works. Technically, the same can be said to be the linked list - a type of data structure. So, a question sure trick on your head - Are they both same or do have some differences between these two? Don't take to much stress. Here, in this article, we are going to disclose the topic - blockchain vs linked list.

So, let's find out the differences between blockchain and linked list

Both blockchain and linked list adopt the same technology. They both have a genesis block which doesn’t have a previous hash number. Though blockchain does actually have characteristics of a linked list data structure, there have some key differences between linked list and blockchain.

• Data structure and the linked list are making your head spin.

• A linked list is a linear way to organize and store data where every single element represents a different object.

• Blockchain has a hash function to identify the ancestor of a particular block. In contrast, a linked list does the same function using a pointer function.

• A blockchain is way more complicated as structure. Whereas, A linked list is a linear way of arranging and storing data.

• In the linked list, you could always trace the previous node of the list. Thus, the whole list works like a chain.

• The blockchains of Bitcoin or Ethereum have Merkle trees to store transactions and all the data related to the transactions. These Merkle trees (or blocks) have a link to their parent hash with the unique hash number.

• A blockchain is decentralized, distributed, an autonomous digital ledger that can have numerous applications in practical life. Data manipulation and tampering are nearly impossible in blockchain technology. On the other hand, a linked list is a simple way of structuring data.

• A blockchain has potential to create decentralized apps, decentralized organizations, smart economy and many more.

• A linked list doesn’t have data validators who will safeguard the integrity of the linked list. Blockchain, on the other hand, is a fully functioning autonomous system.

• Blockchain data structure can easily be said to be a linked list.