Agreement Protocol

Definition ∞ An agreement protocol is a set of rules allowing distributed computers to attain a shared state. This fundamental mechanism ensures all participants in a decentralized network confirm the same record of transactions. It is essential for maintaining data consistency and preventing conflicts across disparate nodes.
Context ∞ Agreement protocols form the basis of blockchain operation, determining how transactions are validated and added to the ledger. News often covers advancements or challenges in these protocols, such as proof-of-stake or proof-of-work, directly impacting network security, speed, and decentralization. Debates frequently focus on the trade-offs between various consensus mechanisms concerning scalability and resilience.