Definition ∞ In distributed systems, particularly those using Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus protocols, a view change is a mechanism to replace a faulty or unresponsive leader node. This process ensures the system can continue operating and reach consensus even if the current leader fails. It is a critical component for maintaining liveness and fault tolerance in decentralized networks. A view change restores the system’s ability to progress.
Context ∞ While less commonly reported in mainstream crypto news, view changes are fundamental to the operational resilience of many blockchain protocols, especially those employing BFT-derived consensus.