Overview
Block height is a measure of the 'length' of the blockchain. The genesis block has a height of 0 (or 1), and each subsequent block increases the height by one.
Use Cases
- Synchronization: Nodes use block height to determine if they are up to date with the rest of the network.
- Timing: While not perfectly precise, block height is often used as a proxy for time in smart contracts (e.g., 'unlock funds at block height X').
- Identification: A specific block can be uniquely identified by its height.