What Is the Primary Difference between a ‘Mempool’ and a ‘Block’?
The Mempool is a temporary, constantly changing holding area for unconfirmed transactions on a node's memory. It is unique to each node.
A Block, conversely, is a permanent, immutable data structure containing a confirmed set of transactions. Once a block is mined and added to the blockchain, its contents are final and distributed across the network.
The Mempool is the 'waiting room'; the Block is the 'final ledger entry'.
Glossar
Mempool
Propagation ⎊ The mempool, within cryptocurrency networks, functions as a temporary holding area for unconfirmed transactions awaiting inclusion in a block.
Consensus Mechanism
Efficacy ⎊ : The mechanism's efficacy is measured by its ability to achieve agreement on transaction ordering and state transition while maintaining a high degree of decentralization and finality.
Data Structure
Organization ⎊ The specific arrangement of transactional and state data within the ledger dictates the computational pathways for processing and state transition.
Block
Genesis ⎊ A block, within cryptocurrency networks, represents a foundational unit of data containing a set of transactions, cryptographically linked to the preceding block, establishing an immutable and chronological record.
Unconfirmed Transactions
Transaction ⎊ In cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi), a transaction's unconfirmed status signifies its submission to a network but not yet inclusion within a validated block.