What Is A Nonce In Bitcoin?

A nonce is a 32-bit field in a Bitcoin block, adjusted by miners to achieve a specific hash value. In the Bitcoin network, miners modify the nonce to ensure that the block's hash is less than or equal to the current target set by the network. Any alteration to the block data, including the nonce, results in a significantly different hash. Miners iterate through numerous nonce values and recalculate the hash until they find one meeting the network's target. This process, which consumes time and resources, is termed "proof of work." The network's difficulty level indicates the target value, with higher difficulties denoting lower targets.