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Category: Blockchain

What is Fork?

Summary Definition: A change to the consensus rules of a blockchain resulting in a divergence of the network protocol.

Detailed Technical Explanation

A fork occurs when software developers update the consensus rules. If backward compatible, it is a soft fork; if not backward compatible, it results in a hard fork that splits the network into two distinct chains.

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Related Blockchain Terms

Block

A structured package of verified transactions cryptographically linked to the preceding...

Blockchain

A distributed, immutable digital ledger of cryptographically linked blocks shared across...

Consensus

The mechanism through which distributed nodes agree on the single canonical state of the...

Genesis Block

The very first block ever recorded on a blockchain, usually designated as Block 0 or...

Hard Fork

A non-backward-compatible protocol upgrade requiring all validating nodes to update their...

Soft Fork

A backward-compatible protocol upgrade where non-upgraded nodes still recognize new...

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