Different roots commit to different parts of a block’s execution context.
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A final ledger snapshot and the list of submitted forms are separate records.
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Build a root and follow one membership proofStep 1 / 4
This example hashes UTF-8 A, B, C and D. The displayed hashes are abbreviated, and the tree uses the playground’s sorted-pair convention.
This example hashes UTF-8 A, B, C and D. The displayed hashes are abbreviated, and the tree uses the playground’s sorted-pair convention.Each pair of raw child hashes is sorted, concatenated and hashed. The resulting parent fingerprints commit to their children.Hash the two parents under the same rule to obtain one root commitment. Changing a leaf changes the hashes on its path.The highlighted siblings are B and hash(C,D). Starting with A, the verifier recomputes its path and compares the final result with a trusted root.
Animated local teaching model. No wallet, RPC or live blockchain data. Some labels and hashes are abbreviated for readability.
Identify the state commitment
A state root commits to the execution state associated with the block under the applicable rules. It is not simply the hash of the block’s transaction list.
Identify transaction inclusion
A transaction root commits to that block’s transaction sequence using its specified indexed trie construction. An inclusion proof answers a different question from an account-state proof.
Keep ordering and execution separate
A transaction’s presence does not alone establish every claimed balance or successful internal action. Interpret its execution result and resulting state under the right evidence.
Verify the block context
The root’s relevance depends on an authenticated block and appropriate chain status. A proof against an untrusted header does not independently establish accepted chain history.
Follow the proof model
state root → committed execution state
transaction root → committed block transaction list
Different roots, different claims.
Binary examples use the stated local playground convention. They are not Ethereum account or storage trie proofs.