📦 Account = Your Database Record (Owned by You)

In Web2:

• Your data lives in a database row (e.g., user profile, balance)
• The company owns and controls that database

In Solana:

An account is a fundamental unit for storing state on a blockchain network
It can store:

• SOL balance
• Token balances
• App-specific data (like profile, game state, etc.)

👉 Key shift:

In Web2 → company owns your data
In Solana → accounts are owned/controlled by programs or your key

🔑 Key Pair = Username + Password (but better)

In Web2:

You log in with username + password
The server verifies your credentials

In Solana:

A key pair =
Public key → like your username (you can share it)
Private key → like your password (must stay secret)

But here’s the key difference:

In Web2, the server stores and verifies your password
In Solana, no server exists → you prove ownership by signing messages with your private key

👉 Think of it as:

Instead of sending your password, you prove you know it without revealing it