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.
Glossar
Merkle Root
Derivation ⎊ A Merkle Root functions as a cryptographic summary of all transactions within a block, essential for verifying data integrity in distributed ledger technology.
Data Structure
Framework ⎊ The term "Data Structure," within the context of cryptocurrency, options trading, and financial derivatives, fundamentally refers to the organized arrangement and storage of data to facilitate efficient access and manipulation.