Inter-Replica Communication

Definition ∞ Inter-replica communication refers to the exchange of messages and data between multiple identical copies, or replicas, of a distributed system’s components. This communication is essential for maintaining consistency and agreement among these replicas, particularly in fault-tolerant systems where redundancy is key. It ensures that all active replicas possess the same state and process operations in a coordinated manner. This is vital for system reliability.
Context ∞ In the context of decentralized networks and blockchain protocols, inter-replica communication is a core element of achieving consensus and maintaining network integrity. News discussions about protocol upgrades or new distributed ledger technologies often touch upon the efficiency and security of their inter-replica communication mechanisms. Optimizing this communication is critical for improving scalability, reducing latency, and enhancing the overall resilience of decentralized systems.