To understand various projects that are under development in the Hyperledger project, it is essential to understand the foundations of Hyperledger first.
A few terminologies that are specific to Hyperledger need some clarification before readers are introduced to the more in-depth material.
A Complete Guide to Understanding This Blockchain Concept (Part 2)
Fabric can be defined as a collection of components providing a foundation layer that can be used to deliver a blockchain network.
There are various types and capabilities of a fabric network, but all fabrics share common attributes such as immutability and are consensus-driven.
Some fabrics can provide a modular approach towards building blockchain networks.
In this case, the blockchain network can have multiple pluggable modules to perform a various function on the network.
For example, consensus algorithms can be a pluggable module in a blockchain network where, depending on the requirements of the network, an appropriate consensus algorithm can be chosen and plugged into the network.
The modules can be based on some particular specification of the fabric and can include APIs, access control, and various other components.
Why This Matters for Blockchain Technology
Fabrics can also be designed either to be private or public and can allow the creation of multiple business networks.
As an example, Bitcoin is an application that runs on top of its fabric (blockchain network).
As discussed earlier in , Blockchain 101, blockchain can either be permissioned or permission-less.
However, the aim of Hyperledger Fabric is to develop a permissioned distributed ledger.
Key Points to Remember
- Fabric To understand various projects that are under development in the Hyperledger project, it is essential to understand the foundations of Hyperledger first.
- A few terminologies that are specific to Hyperledger need some clarification before readers are introduced to the more in-depth material.
- Fabric can be defined as a collection of components providing a foundation layer that can be used to deliver a blockchain network.
- There are various types and capabilities of a fabric network, but all fabrics share common attributes such as immutability and are consensus-driven.
Going Deeper: Advanced Concepts
Fabric is also the name given to the code contribution made by IBM to the Hyperledger foundation and is formally called Hyperledger Fabric.
IBM also offers blockchain as a service (IBM Blockchain) via its IBM Cloud service.
Conclusion
Fabric represents one of the many innovative layers that make blockchain technology so powerful and transformative. As distributed systems continue to evolve, a solid understanding of these core concepts becomes increasingly valuable — not just for developers, but for anyone building, investing in, or working alongside blockchain-powered systems.
Whether you are just starting your blockchain journey or deepening existing expertise, mastering these fundamentals gives you the tools to think clearly about decentralized systems and make smarter decisions in this rapidly evolving space.