Decentralization Versus Distributed Systems

One of the biggest misconceptions in the blockchain space is between distributed systems and decentralized systems. In this chapter, we are going to discuss both types of systems, why they matter, their similarities, their differences, and how blockchain technology can fit into both categories.

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to do the following:

• Define a distributed system
• Define a decentralized system
• Understand the benefits and drawbacks of distributed systems
• Understand the benefits and drawbacks of decentralized systems