Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance

Definition ∞ Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) is a consensus algorithm that allows a distributed system to operate correctly even if some nodes fail or act maliciously. PBFT achieves agreement among a set of replica nodes by requiring a supermajority of honest nodes to validate and commit transactions. It provides strong consistency and low latency in permissioned environments where the number of participating nodes is known and limited. This algorithm is designed to ensure system integrity and availability despite potential Byzantine failures.
Context ∞ Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance is a significant consensus mechanism used in enterprise blockchain solutions and permissioned distributed ledgers where high transaction speed and finality are prioritized. Discussions often contrast PBFT’s performance benefits with its reduced decentralization compared to public proof-of-work chains. Its application is primarily seen in private blockchain consortia and specific use cases requiring strict control.