Blockchain is the basis of every cryptocurrency. Blockchain performance is basically the main reference for valuing cryptocurrencies. Blockchain technology with high performance and bringing innovations that are useful in the development of crypto will generally be favored and increase the value of the coins or tokens developed in it.
Every blockchain that has been in operation today and is home to the top crypto coins or tokens is certainly not created in one go. These blockchains must have been developed in no time, going through one stage to the next until they were officially released. One of the stages that the blockchain must pass is the test network stage or more often abbreviated as testnet.
What is Testnet?
Blockchain status is generally divided into two, namely as mainnet and as testnet. Mainnet is a term for a blockchain that has been officially operational and is a place where coins or tokens are transacted between users. While testnet is a blockchain that is still not officially released and still has to be tested in various aspects.
Testnet or test network can be understood like a blockchain network in general, it’s just that it has not been tested whether there are significant bugs or whether the features in it can work as desired. If mainnet is a public network, then testnet is a private network. Testnet is not accessible to users outside of developer permission and is still subject to major changes.
Like the mainnet, tesnet also has a token in it as a sample to test the function of the testnet network in managing cryptocurrency transactions. Since these tokens are sampled, they normally have no economic value and cannot be cashed out. The tests carried out were also thorough, not only on the transaction process, but also on security and other features to ensure the smooth running of the blockchain when officially used by users.
Testnet can be done behind closed doors by the developers of the crypto project itself and can also be done openly by involving public developers. Usually a public tesnet will provide a number of incentives to participating developers. The provisions for the intensive amount depend on the company. The mechanism that is often used is to provide different incentives to public developers according to the part of the testnet that is followed. For example, a developer who participates in a testnet as a network node may receive greater incentives than a developer who simply tests the performance of the blockchain in the token exchange process.
Functions and Purpose of Tesnet
The testnet phase is very beneficial for the future of blockchain networks. Although the value of tokens or coins may not be affected much by the existence of the testnet. But there are many functions and purposes of the testnet, mainly to provide assurance to users that the blockchain will be usable when it is officially released.
Some of the functions and objectives of tesnet in the development of a blockchain network are as follows:
Thoroughly test blockchain functionality
Look for bugs, especially those that can significantly affect the blockchain.
Ensuring the smooth, secure, stable and innovative features of the blockchain run smoothly.
Increase the credibility of crypto projects
Guarantees user convenience when the official blockchain is used.
Difference between Testnet and Mainnet
Testnet and mainnet are basically the same thing. Testnet can be said as the finishing stage in building a blockchain. And the mainnet is a blockchain that has passed the testnet phase.
Tesnet can differ significantly from mainnet. Because the testnet phase is indeed used to find deficiencies in the concepts, features, security, innovations of the blockchain that have been made previously. So, if there is a concept failure or other things that make the blockchain function decrease significantly and even become unfit for use, then there is an opportunity for developers to completely overhaul the blockchain.
Meanwhile, the mainnet in general is still possible to develop further. However, mainnet development does not change the concept of blockchain and usually only involves adding certain features to improve blockchain performance.
Conclusion
So, the testnet is an important phase in the development of a blockchain. This phase is used to find and fix the shortcomings of the blockchain before it is actually released. In addition, the testnet is also carried out as a guarantee to users by developers that the crypto project is carried out in earnest from one stage to the next.
Testnet is a cryptocurrency network that is not yet fully functional, and is used on a limited basis for testing cryptocurrencies. So testnet is not used for daily blockchain network operations or work, but is limited to certain purposes. The testnet is used so as not to interfere with the work and stability of the main network, in addition to minimizing the impact when the test fails or has a negative impact on the blockchain system.
So the testnet is not the main network for the operation of the blockchain, so damage or disruption to the testnet does not interfere with the system as a whole, even the main system running on the mainnet remains safe and has no effect because both operate on two different networks. The mainnet itself is a fully operational blockchain network and is the main network where transactions are carried out. On the mainnet, cryptocurrency transactions are carried out, not only that, various operations from cryptocurrencies or blockchains such as NFT minting, dApps, and others run on the mainnet. The mainnet is only functional after the blockchain passes the test on the testnet.
Although a blockchain that was previously a prototype is fully functional on the mainnet, the testnet is not completely eliminated as the development of new crypto features, error finding, and testing of newer blockchain versions is carried out on the testnet, and testing of new dApps is fully enabled on the mainnet. mainnet if it has passed the test from mainnet
Basically testnet and mainnet have similarities, because they are both made from the same source code. However, the testnet does not work on the main blockchain network. There are some basic differences between mainnet and testnet, namely:
Transaction fees on the testnet are very low and even free, while on the mainnet the transaction fees are standard. With low transaction fees, blockchain developers and third-party developers can use the testnet without worrying about experiencing cost constraints when using it.
Mainnet and testnet have different network ids, because they are running on two different networks even though they are still in one blockchain system.
The number of nodes on the testnet is less than the number of nodes on the mainnet, because the testnet only needs a few nodes, in contrast to the mainnet which needs many nodes to support blockchain operations.
Testnet does not publish code, because the code on the mainnet is constantly changing due to development activities by developers. While on the mainnet the code is published with the aim of maintaining transparency and public trust.
