Byzantine Faults

Definition ∞ Byzantine faults describe a class of errors in distributed computing systems where components can exhibit arbitrary and unpredictable behavior. This means a node might fail to respond, send incorrect information, or collude with malicious actors. Designing systems that can tolerate such faults is crucial for achieving consensus and maintaining operational integrity in decentralized networks. It represents a fundamental challenge in distributed systems engineering.
Context ∞ The concept of Byzantine faults is central to the design and security of all distributed ledger technologies and consensus mechanisms. News regarding network attacks, consensus failures, or proposals for new fault-tolerant algorithms frequently addresses this issue. The ongoing research and development focus on creating more robust consensus protocols that can reliably function even when a fraction of network participants behave maliciously or erratically.