What Is the Primary Function of the Merkle Root in a Blockchain?

The Merkle Root is the single, top-level hash of a Merkle Tree within a block. Its primary function is to act as a tamper-proof summary of all the transactions in that block.

It is included in the block header, which is then hashed to create the block's unique identifier. This inclusion ensures that any alteration to a single transaction will change the Merkle Root, thus invalidating the block's header hash.

This is crucial for maintaining the blockchain's immutability.