What are Bitcoin addresses
To operate in Bitcoin you need to create an address that, as in email, is used to distinguish one account from others.
The addresses are unique, are generated by random mathematical processes and are made up of between 26 and 35 alphanumeric characters.
Obtaining a Bitcoin address is a free process and there is no limit to the amount that each person can handle.
The easiest method is through wallets: applications or web services that allow you to operate with cryptocurrencies and that provide addresses when registering with them.
Although advanced users prefer to manage their addresses without resorting to wallets, to have complete control. This is a bit more complex, but it is not impossible.
Public keys and private keys?
Bitcoin addresses are made up of pairs of keys: one private and one public.
The public key is used to generate one or more addresses that work in a similar way to an email address: they serve to distinguish each account from the others.
This part is shared when trading, as it does not compromise access to funds. And since it has a complex shape, it can be replaced by a QR code that simplifies it.
The private key works more like a password, it is used to digitally sign transactions and must be kept secret as it is the true key to funds.
These keys are in the form of a string of alphanumeric characters but can also be translated into a series of keywords.
There are many digital services for storing keys. Some online and others on specific electronic devices, similar to USB sticks.
In any case, the recommendation is always to write down the private key on a piece of paper and protect it. There are even those who engrave it in metal, in case they suffer a fire or flood.
Is that losing or forgetting the private key means losing access to bitcoins.
