Side-chains (advantages and disadvantages)

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A side chain is an extra blockchain that runs on parallel to the core blockchain which is usually referred to as the parent chain. Side chains are created to assist parent chain in creating
a better scalability, flexibility, security and interoperability in a blockchain networks. Side chains helps blockchain developers make experiment on new features, updates and functionalities without altering the workability the security and stability of the core blockchain.

Purpose of Side Chains

The basic purpose of side chains is to offload or reduce transactions, smart contract executions and other blockchain related workload from the core blockchain.

Scalability:

Scalability can be defined as the ability of a blockchain to process transactions on side chains, at a very effective manner, despite the size or location. With the help of sidechain the core blockchain would handle a higher priority of transactions without becoming slow or experiencing any security failures.

Flexibility:

With the help of side-chains actions and development of a blockchain can now be done in a very flexible manner that is because developers can now work on update to improve the existing blockchain without affecting the workability of the blockchain for a single second.

This art alone makes it very helpful to blockchain developers and also it helps in improving the efficiency and capacity of a blockchain because they would we know need to shut down they blockchain because an upgrade or update is about to be installed to this existing blockchain.

Interoperability: Side chains helps enabling different blockchains technology to communicate and interact with each other efficiently and effectively. This interoperability can improve a blockchain into a more integrated blockchain ecosystem where assets and data can move faster and easier across different chains.

Benefits of Side Chains

Enhanced Scalability:

By distributing sharing the transactions workload across all blockchain ecosystem, the overall blockchain would have the capability and capacity to process very large amount of transaction activities or data over a short period of time without any error or failures

Cost Efficiency:

From experience and activities of previous blockchain technologies it has proven that side chain can help reduce the cost charge of every transaction done on the blockchain this is because it has helped the blockchain reduce the workload so therefore the charge used to process data and information on the blockchain is expected to be lower than it used to be

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Experimentation and Innovation:
Blockchain developers and smart contact developers can easily create update and manipulate a blockchain smart contact and a blockchain Decentralized app without affecting the growth and workability of the blockchain over period of time. The developers can efficiently an effectively try out their new innovations are project without altering the activities of the blockchain at any given time.

Improved User Experience:

Because of the way this side chains help in reducing the workload of the blockchain the blockchain tends to be less congested and at the same time and become faster, this activities helps improve user interface and the user experience why working on the blockchain and why performing different transactions on the blockchain technology.

Improving blockchain health:
By reducing resource-consuming transactions to side chains, the main blockchain can remain lighter and more efficient. This helps in improving the overall blockchain health and performance over the period of time.

Disadvantages of Side-chain

Security Challenges:

One of the scariest downside of side chains is the lower security level on this side chains, because this side chains handle lower priority activities blockchain communities thanks to offer lower security Services or strength to the side chains, so therefore making it very venerable to security threats like cyber attack of any sort or type.

Complexity:

Due to the fact that they are newer sort of technologies built on an existing blockchain, they tend to be very complex and confusing to developers who haven't come across such powerful technology.

The lot of side chains on the internet and so far they have proven to be worth using or implementing side-chains in more chain, this is because this this tactics have proven to eliminate congestion another serious issues that affects the growth of a blockchain