What it means
Records and agreement
Cryptographic links connect blocks, while a network’s validation and consensus rules determine which proposed history participants accept. The linked data structure and the mechanism used to agree on updates are related but different parts of the system.
What a record establishes
A blockchain record can provide evidence that a transaction or state change was accepted under a particular protocol. It does not independently prove an off-chain claim, legal ownership of every referenced object or the identity of the person behind an address. Networks differ in permissions, privacy and security assumptions.
Related concepts
In practice
A concrete example
A merchant checks a transfer on the intended network, then separately matches it to the correct customer order and applies an acceptance policy.
Technical notes & boundaries
A blockchain does not automatically guarantee privacy, permanent finality or accurate real-world inputs. Identify the specific network and consensus rules.
Go to the source.
Original references used for this definition. Product details and standards can change.
