What Is a ‘Merkle Tree’ and Why Is It Essential for Blockchain Efficiency?

A Merkle Tree, or hash tree, is a data structure used to efficiently summarize all the transactions in a block. It works by repeatedly hashing pairs of transaction hashes until a single 'Merkle Root' hash remains.

This root is included in the block header. It allows for quick and efficient verification of any transaction without downloading the entire block.

What Is a ‘Merkle Root’ and Its Function in a Block?
How Does Hashing Relate to the Concept of a Merkle Tree in a Blockchain?
What Is a ‘Merkle Tree’ and How Does It Use Cryptographic Hashing?
How Does a ‘Light Client’ Utilize the Merkle Root for Verification?
What Is the Concept of a Merkle Tree in Blockchain Data Verification?
What Is the Function of the Merkle Tree in a Bitcoin Block?
What Is the Difference between a ‘UTXO’ and an ‘Account’ Model in Blockchains?
What Is the Difference between the Merkle Root and the Block Hash?

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