A fork occurs when a blockchain diverges into two separate paths due to changes in its protocol. Forks can be initiated to introduce new features, address security issues, or resolve disagreements within the community.
There are two primary types of forks: hard forks, which create a permanent split and are not backward compatible, and soft forks, which are backward compatible with the original chain.
Forks often result in the creation of a new cryptocurrency, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of blockchain technology.
« Back to Glossary Index