What is decentralization?
Decentralization is one of the most used terms or a word in web3 space. So, what is decentralization? In simple words, it is just passing control or any entity to multiple entities rather than just one entity. It’s still complex right. Let’s break it down with an example. Let’s use a database as an example. Google, Meta(previously known as Facebook), etc. uses a database. Their database is managed at some central system, which means some specific storage device or server room which can be termed centralization. In the decentralized database, data is stored and managed by multiple servers(nodes), which are not controlled by any organization.
How can be decentralized achieved?
Let’s use the database as an example. Whenever anyone uploads any data to a decentralized database then they inform it to the system and the process of database entry is informed to all servers (nodes) that are responsible for database management. All servers(nodes) now work on database entry. Whenever an entry is done successfully then that entry is informed to all peer servers(nodes) that the entry has been completed. Now they start working on another entry. This is the process in simple words how decentralization is achieved. In web3 specifically, thousands of hours of research and billions of hash power are being used just to achieve decentralization.
What is the difference between decentralized and distributed?
Decentralization means that not one single entity has control over all the processing done in the system. Whereas distributed means not all processing of the transaction is done in the same place.
Why decentralization is used?
There are several reasons for using decentralization and a major reason decentralization is being used in web3 space.
1) Fault tolerance
2) Attack resistance
3) Collusion resistance
- Fault Tolerance
A decentralized system is not likely to fail, as it relies on many individual components that are not likely to fail accidentally. So there is very very likely to fail fault tolerance is very negligible. - Attack resistance
To attack decentralized systems and manipulate systems is highly expensive as they lack a sensitive central point to attack over and manipulate. - Collusion resistance
It is much harder for individuals in a decentralized system to collude for their benefit. It is managed in such a way that harms very less to a well-coordinated system.
Conclusion
It is too much hard to achieve decentralization as it required a huge and well-maintained ecosystem to maintain it and make it fault resistance, attack resistance, and Collusion resistance. Once the system is developed then there are servers (nodes) to manage it and maintain decentralization on its own. It’s too much expensive to break down or take over a decentralized system.
References
Image: https://steemit.com/steemit/@jholdsworthy/decentralization-is-the-future
