State Divergence

Definition ∞ State divergence occurs when different nodes or participants in a blockchain network possess inconsistent records of the network’s current status. This discrepancy means that the shared ledger is no longer uniformly agreed upon, leading to a fragmentation of truth. Such a situation can arise from network partitions, software bugs, or malicious attacks. It fundamentally undermines the integrity of a distributed ledger.
Context ∞ State divergence is a critical issue that can severely compromise the reliability and security of a blockchain network. Discussions frequently address the consensus mechanisms and network protocols designed to prevent or resolve such inconsistencies. A critical future development involves enhancing the resilience of these protocols and improving fault tolerance to ensure all network participants maintain a synchronized and accurate view of the ledger.