<p>The height of a block is the number of blocks in the chain between it and the genesis block.  (So the genesis block has height 0.)</p>

<p>The height of the block chain is usually taken to be the height of the highest block, in the chain with greatest total difficulty; i.e. the length of the chain minus one.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-25T22:20:35.750Z
This answer was used to create a tag-wiki for [tag:height]. :)
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-12T01:01:12.390Z
2013-12-12T01:01:12.390Z
Nate Eldredge
<p>What is the definition of blockchain height and how is it found/calculated.</p>

<p>I get the idea it is related to the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/938/10577">SO answer</a> by Gary Rowe, but the word "height" is not mentioned. Yet I see references to "blockchain height" in many places.</p>

<blockchain><terminology><height>
Definition of blockchain height
zaph
# Definition of blockchain height

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-12)

What is the definition of blockchain height and how is it found/calculated.

I get the idea it is related to the [SO answer](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/938/10577) by Gary Rowe, but the word "height" is not mentioned. Yet I see references to "blockchain height" in many places.

**Tags:** blockchain, terminology, height


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-12. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

The height of a block is the number of blocks in the chain between it and the genesis block. (So the genesis block has height 0.)

The height of the block chain is usually taken to be the height of the highest block, in the chain with greatest total difficulty; i.e. the length of the chain minus one.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: This answer was used to create a tag-wiki for [tag:height]. :)  

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