I had the concept of "orders" and "inputs" and "outputs" -- which I now understand as data and code instructions -- mixed up with the value (bitcoin) that's being transferred from one owner to another. I was wrongly imagining output having to do with something like taking value out of something like a drawer and input having to do with something like putting it a different drawer that the receiver of the value can open.

Thanks very much for your patience with the weirdness of my questions.