What is a blockchain - are Bitcoin and blockchain the same thing?

In short, a blockchain allows people to securely store information in a way that prevents manipulation, hacking or gaming of the system.

Blockchains act as a digital leggier shared across a computer network that document, duplicate and distribute transactions.

Transactions exist within a "block", and each new transaction transfers to each participating ledger in the "chain".

Computer networks validate new transactions by solving a series of complex equations.