Leader Failover

Definition ∞ Leader failover is a mechanism ensuring continuous operation in distributed systems when a primary node ceases function. It involves the automatic transfer of control and responsibilities from a failed leader node to a designated replica. This process maintains system availability and data consistency without manual intervention. The swift and reliable execution of leader failover is critical for fault tolerance and system resilience.
Context ∞ In blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, leader failover is vital for maintaining network uptime and transaction finality. News reports on network outages or service interruptions often highlight the effectiveness or deficiencies of a system’s failover capabilities. Robust leader election and failover procedures are a hallmark of highly available and secure distributed ledgers. Ongoing advancements aim to minimize downtime during such transitions.