Duplicate Block Management

Definition ∞ Duplicate Block Management describes the methods employed by a blockchain network to identify and handle instances where multiple valid blocks are proposed at approximately the same time. This procedure ensures that the network ultimately selects a single, canonical block to extend the chain. Effective management prevents forks from persisting indefinitely and maintains the integrity of the transaction history. It is a critical component for achieving consensus in distributed systems.
Context ∞ Duplicate Block Management is a central concern in blockchain scalability and consensus mechanism discussions, often appearing in news about network upgrades or performance improvements. The efficiency of these management strategies directly influences transaction finality and network security. Protocols continually seek to optimize these processes to minimize orphaned blocks and maximize network agreement.