Architecture and Platforms Flashcards
7 cards from real Blockchain Technology practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Architecture and Platforms flashcards as text
Which consensus mechanism does Ethereum use after 'The Merge' in 2022?
Answer: Proof of Stake
Ethereum switched from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake during 'The Merge' in September 2022.
What is a 'shard' in the context of blockchain scalability?
Answer: A partition of the network that processes transactions in parallel
Sharding divides the blockchain network into smaller partitions called shards, each capable of processing transactions independently to improve throughput.
What distinguishes a permissioned blockchain from a permissionless one?
Answer: Only approved participants can join and transact on a permissioned blockchain
A permissioned blockchain restricts participation to pre-approved entities, unlike permissionless blockchains where anyone can join.
What is the primary role of a 'validator node' in a Proof of Stake network?
Answer: To propose and attest to new blocks by staking cryptocurrency as collateral
Validators in PoS networks lock up (stake) cryptocurrency as collateral and are chosen to propose or vote on new blocks.
What is the function of the 'mempool' in blockchain architecture?
Answer: A temporary holding area for unconfirmed transactions
The mempool (memory pool) is a node's waiting room where unconfirmed transactions sit until miners or validators include them in a block.
Which layer-2 scaling solution batches transactions off-chain and submits compressed proofs to Ethereum?
Answer: ZK-Rollups
ZK-Rollups bundle many transactions off-chain and submit a zero-knowledge proof to the main chain, inheriting its security while increasing throughput.
What is 'finality' in blockchain terminology?
Answer: The point at which a transaction is considered irreversible and permanently recorded
Finality means a transaction can no longer be reversed, altered, or cancelled, giving participants certainty that the record is permanent.