Fork (blockchain)
In blockchain, a fork is defined variously as:
"what happens when a blockchain diverges into two potential paths forward"
"a change in protocol" or
a situation that "occurs when two or more blocks have the same block height"Forks are related to the fact that different parties need to use common rules to maintain the history of the blockchain. When parties are not in agreement, alternative chains may emerge. While most forks are short-lived some are permanent. Short-lived forks are due to the difficulty of reaching fast consensus in a distributed system.