Block Height is one of the indicators of the operating parameters of blocks in the blockchain system.

Bitcoin and many other cryptocurrency systems are based on an advanced blockchain ledger system. At the heart of each blockchain, there are building elements - blocks, which are created on average every 10 minutes. Each block has a number of its own indicators, one of which is height.

Definition of the term

Block height is the total number of blocks that are paired with the Genesis block. The genesis block, in turn, is the very first block created at the time of the introduction of the Bitcoin network - the first cryptocurrency system. After the genesis block, new blocks are regularly created, which, roughly speaking, are layered on top of it, forming separate blockchains. A unique feature of this mechanism is that the maximum number of blocks is not limited. That is, even when absolutely all available Bitcoin coins are mined, blocks will still be added to by users completing transactions.

Thus, the block height determines the number of blocks that are placed between the selected block and the genesis block.

Why do you need to know the height indicator?

This characteristic is mainly used to update data on the block update time and assess the blockchain network's maturity and distance.

The height value is not written into the information in the block itself. This indicator can be obtained through network nodes that track this number. However, the architecture of each block contains a timestamp, which ensures the integrity of the blockchain. Having information about the height, you can set the necessary parameters, analyze the height of the block, and obtain information about the transaction's time and all information about it.