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You would not want to risk deploying software with bad functionalities that would be figured out after production. It would be embarrassing if after deploying to production users discovered lapses in your development. Same is with the blockchain network. It is even more serious because of its intricacies and sensitivities.
In the blockchain’s sphere, we have the testnet (test network) and mainnet (main network). The actual production chain of any cryptocurrency is known as Mainnet. While an alternative blockchain network that is used for the purpose of testing is the testnet. Why is the need for testnet?
Testnet
This is an alternative to the actual blockchain network where final activities would be done. It is very important to have testnet because it is pretty easy for developers and engineers to make a design, modify, as well as test the functionality of the embarked project. Such testing helps them to keep track of the expected performance of the network before exposing the actual network to the public.
If you are just learning about how cryptocurrency works, it is very much advisable that you take an advantage of the testnet of available cryptocurrencies. This will help you to send and receive coins, thereby learning how transaction works. Developers and testers also would be able to see how feasible it is transacting on the network. All can test this without having to lose a dime that would ordinarily be incurred for transacting on the mainnet.
Without the testnet, developers would have to spend lots of time deploying and redeploying at production level. This, aside consuming time and resources could be frustrating. It is worthy of note that in the advent that a problem ensued after such deployment, users could lose their money because it would have affected the assets of the users. This will not tell well on the developers and the overall reputation of such project. Examples of testnet are Avalanche Testnet, PulsChain testnet, Binance Smart Chain testnet etc.
PulseChain Testnet
Avalanche Testnet
Mainnet
For a starter to get or own certain percent of a coin, there is need for such starter to mine the coin or trade the coin. Therefore, the main, as the name implies, blockchain that serves the functionality of handling the real and actual transaction is called the mainnet. It handles the actual transmission and reception of transaction using coins with real value on the economic space. The transactions that take place here are recorded on a distributed ledger. Why the need for mainnet?
Mainnet stands to indicate the progress of a project. Users and potential investors who already experimented with the testnet could have been yearning for the actual deployment. If such deployment never surfaced then it could be assumed that the project lacks credibility. Examples of mainnet are Bitcoin mainnet, Ethereum mainnet, Binance Smart Chain mainnet etc.
Bitcoin mainnet
Ethereum mainnet
In summary, while mainnet is the actual and final production phase of a crypto project, testnet is like a platform where the engagements of the public is needed for the test of quality, compatibility, and feasibility of certain cryptocurrency. Since the tokens that will be used for testing are ‘worthless’, testers have little to no transaction cost to bear unlike on the mainnet. The mainnet is the actiual production level of the cryptocurrency project.
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