Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism used to validate transactions and secure a network. In PoW, miners solve complex mathematical puzzles to add new blocks to a blockchain. This process requires significant computational power and energy, making it resource-intensive.When a miner successfully solves a puzzle, they broadcast the solution to the network. Other miners verify the solution, and once confirmed, the new block is added to the blockchain. The successful miner is rewarded with newly created coins and transaction fees from the transactions included in the block.PoW enhances security by making it costly and time-consuming to alter any part of the blockchain. If someone attempts to change a previous block, they would need to redo the work for that block and all subsequent blocks, which is impractical for a well-established network. While PoW has proven effective for networks like Bitcoin, it has drawn criticism for its environmental impact due to high energy consumption associated with mining activities. Some newer systems are exploring alternative methods to achieve consensus while minimizing energy use.