Address
A unique software-defined public identity comprised of an alphanumeric key. Typically an address maps directly to a public key, which is one of the defining elements of the public key infrastructure used throughout modern internet communications. Addresses enable all data submitted by a particular user or device to be traced back to its originator.
In the context of distributed ledger technologies like blockchains, addresses serve as a virtualized location where some data is stored. In UTXO-based networks, an address is also the atomic unit of identity required for signing and sending transactions on the ledger. This means that balances of digital assets are also tracked there. A user may use a wallet dApp to interact with these assets and transfer them to others.
An address is also an essential component of each account in “account-based” blockchains. For these reasons the terms “account” and “address” will often be conflated when speaking at a high level about these technologies.