How Blockchain Transactions Work: From Initiation to Immutable Confirmation (Part 2)

A transaction at a high level contains metadata, inputs, and outputs.

The transaction data structure is shown in the following table: Field Size Description Version 4 bytes Used to specify rules to be used by the miners and nodes for transaction processing.

From Initiation to Immutable Confirmation (Part 2)

The first transaction in a inputs block is also called a coinbase transaction.

Output 1-9 A positive integer representing the number of outputs.

All these elements are described in the following subsections.

Why This Matters for Blockchain Technology

Understanding The transaction data structure is not just an academic exercise — it has real-world implications for how blockchain systems are designed, deployed, and secured. Whether you are a developer building decentralized applications, a business leader evaluating blockchain adoption, or a curious learner exploring the technology, this knowledge provides a critical foundation.

Key Points to Remember

  • The transaction data structure A transaction at a high level contains metadata, inputs, and outputs.
  • The transaction data structure is shown in the following table: Field Size Description Version 4 bytes Used to specify rules to be used by the miners and nodes for transaction processing.
  • The first transaction in a inputs block is also called a coinbase transaction.
  • Output 1-9 A positive integer representing the number of outputs.

Conclusion

The transaction data structure 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.