Nonlinear differential-difference equations appear in optics, condensed matter physics, plasma physics and other fields. In this paper, we investigate a nonlinear differential-difference hierarchy relevant, in the case of θ=0, to the Ablowitz-Ladik equation, where θ=0,1. That hierarchy is obtained via a discrete spectral problem and the associated discrete spectral problem. When θ=1, Lax pair of the first nonlinear differential-difference system in that hierarchy is obtained. When θ=1, conservation laws and N-fold Darboux transformation of the first nonlinear differential-difference system in that hierarchy are derived with the aid of that Lax pair, where N is a positive integer. When θ=1, explicit exact solutions of that system are determined via that N-fold Darboux transformation. Discrete one soliton and interaction between the discrete one soliton and one breather-like wave are graphically depicted. •A new nonlinear differential-difference hierarchy is constructed.•Conservation laws and N-fold Darboux transformation of the first system in that hierarchy are derived.•Certain explicit exact solutions of that system are obtained.•Discrete one soliton and interaction between the discrete one soliton and one breatherlike wave are graphically depicted.