Protocol Upgrade
A coordinated change to network rules that nodes adopt to gain new features or fixes.
Protocol upgrades can be soft (backward-compatible) or hard (incompatible). Nodes must update to the new rules to remain in consensus with the majority.
The process often involves proposals, client implementations, testnets, and coordination among wallets, exchanges, and miners.
Related terms
3 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Fork
→A fork is a blockchain divergence caused by competing blocks, software changes, or incompatible consensus rules.
Node
→A device that participates in a blockchain network, with roles varying from transaction validation to block creation.
Protocol
→The formal set of rules that define how participants in a network communicate and reach consensus.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
