Definition ∞ A fault tolerance primitive is a basic, irreducible component or mechanism designed to allow a system to continue operating correctly despite failures of some of its parts. These foundational elements ensure reliability by masking or recovering from errors. They form the building blocks for constructing robust and resilient distributed systems.
Context ∞ In blockchain technology, fault tolerance primitives are essential for maintaining network operation even when nodes malfunction or act maliciously. Concepts like cryptographic hashing, digital signatures, and simple consensus rules serve as primitives that contribute to the overall resilience of the distributed ledger. News often discusses how these underlying mechanisms are applied and improved to strengthen blockchain security and uptime.