Lately, Ive seen your active inquiries here about different scope of cryptocurrency and blockchain. But I am glad you are studying it and even ask questions here.
For all we know both are decentralized and not govern or under any authorities or entity. So whats the big difference?
Ethereum si also a blockchain same like with bitcoin however the only difference that quite notable for me. Is the block time or the transaction set on both network. No doubt ethereum is faster that it could take seconds compared to the minutes of bitcoin. Ethereum utilize ethhash while bitcoin uses SHA-256 well comparing technology I am way favor on bitcoin efficient and more profound mechanism.
1.What's actually a smart contract in practical sense?
Smart contract is a method of computer code algorithym created to have a more transparent and irreversible way of transactions. Practically depends on how you viewed it but having a smart contract and leaving third party fees would be beneficial right? 2. How does it make etheruem different from blockchain?
This is quite a confusing question. Ethereum uses blockchain so I am not sure how to answer this, in my little senses. 3. What are the real world applications of a smart contract?
Perfect usage of having a smart contract is tokenization. Example of these are ICOs and IEOs where they used the function to create tokens under the ethereuk network known as erc20 tokens. Also can be used on dApps.4.Is Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) a function in blockchain? How does it work with solidity programming language.?
This is quite a long answer but Ive search this and how it relates on solidity progamming of ethereum software.
[1].
https://medium.com/mycrypto/the-ethereum-virtual-machine-how-does-it-work-9abac2b7c9e[2].
https://github.com/ethereum/wiki/wiki/Ethereum-Virtual-Machine-(EVM)-Awesome-ListThanks for your contributions. It was really helpful insights.
Correction to question 2:
I mean to ask how does smart contract make ethereum different from bitcoin.?
Smart contracts are basically automated contracts/agreements facilitated by the system. It basically acts as something similar to a third party, that enforces the agreement between the two parties. Ethereum and blockchain are different things, so comparing them isn't really anything good.
Ethereum uses the blockchain system, just like how BTC does, but it has included a smart contract system to it, hence the difference between the two.
Some practical uses of the smart contract would be anything that rewards a user once a certain achievement is done. Just imagine in a game when User X achieves achievement A, the contract done at the start of the game would automatically reward the user. There's a bit of discussion
hereif you want more detailed explanations regarding examples.
Thanks so much. I've made a correction to question 2.
Smart contract can be seen as an agreement between party's and partyB with a third party (party C) as the intermediary.
party A is the company, partyB is the investors or users of the coin and party C is the technology.
So, instead of human legal system serving as party C it is decentralized and make technology to replace it.
I believe this explanation explain it in part.