what is the purposes of hard and soft data

Because the two blockchains cannot coexist, the new blockchain splits into two branches, forming a fork-like diversion from the main blockchain.īecause the blockchain is not run by any central authority, it is the responsibility of the participants on the network to agree on the way forward and implement changes that increase the overall efficiency.īlockchains, however, feature different subsets of participants ranging from miners to full node users and developers. A fork is an event on the blockchain that copies the original software and adds the desired changes to it. Thus, instead of rewriting each block, changes to a blockchain are often achieved through the use of a fork. Such a consensus is unlikely to occur because the blocks are linked through a functionally immutable set of rules.

Because the blocks are chained together through a consensus that all of the blocks agree upon, any upgrade to the system requires a change of consensus on all of the blocks.

Therefore, one can picture the blockchain as a straight path made of blocks linked to one another. Forks can be categorized into either soft or hard forks, depending on their purpose.īut first, let us look at what it means to have a fork on the blockchain.Īt its most basic level, a blockchain is like a set of data blocks, connected by secure cryptographic keys that form a chain of blocks going back to the very first block. This unique process of updating or upgrading a blockchain is called a fork. As such, the decision to upgrade to the protocol requires the consensus of all users on the network. For example, blockchains are decentralized open-source protocols that lack a central authority. However, while centralized service providers easily update their software with new features at the touch of a button, decentralized applications, such as cryptocurrency on a blockchain, require a different, more complex approach. Blockchain also relies on similar updates and upgrades efficiency. Most software users are familiar with the updates and upgrades that make their applications more efficient. Hard and Soft Forks: A Detailed and Simplified Explanation of How Blockchains Evolve

What is the purposes of hard and soft data