
What is a smart contract, and how does it actually work?
A plain-English look at the code that runs itself on a blockchain — and why that automation cuts both ways.
Blockchain explains the base layer in plain terms: how nodes agree on a shared record, what a block holds, how long confirmation takes, and where throughput limits originate. Comparisons between consensus designs are included. For developers, analysts and policy staff needing accuracy rather than a marketing summary.
How distributed ledgers reach agreement, what a block contains, when a transaction becomes final, and which guarantees a chain does not provide.

A plain-English look at the code that runs itself on a blockchain — and why that automation cuts both ways.

A public blockchain lets anyone read, use and verify the record; a private one restricts membership — the public vs private blockchain choice is about access…

Layer 1 is the base chain where everything settles; Layer 2 is built on top of it — the Layer 1 vs Layer 2 distinction, in plain words.

A blockchain node is any computer holding and checking a copy of the shared record — here is who runs them and why the crowd matters.

The hard fork vs soft fork difference is compatibility — one tightens rules that old software still accepts, the other splits a chain in two.