How Does a Blockchain Resolve Temporary Forks Caused by Network Latency?
A blockchain resolves temporary forks, often caused by network latency where two miners find a block nearly simultaneously, through the "longest chain rule." Nodes temporarily hold both competing blocks. Once a subsequent block is mined and appended to one of the chains, that chain becomes the longer, valid chain.
All nodes then abandon the shorter chain (the orphaned block) and converge on the longer chain. This process ensures eventual consistency across the network.
Glossar
Temporary Fork
Divergence ⎊ A temporary fork represents a brief, non-permanent divergence in the blockchain's history, occurring when two different block producers simultaneously find a valid next block.
Temporary Forks
Divergence ⎊ Temporary forks, within cryptocurrency and derivative markets, represent transient deviations from the established blockchain consensus, often manifesting as competing chain histories for a limited duration.