What Is a "Fork" in a Blockchain and How Does the Merkle Root Relate to It? ▴ Learn

What Is a “Fork” in a Blockchain and How Does the Merkle Root Relate to It?

A fork occurs when a blockchain splits into two potential paths, typically due to differing consensus rules or simultaneous block creation. The Merkle Root is contained within the block header of each new block.

When a fork occurs, the competing blocks will have different Merkle Roots if they contain different sets of transactions. The Merkle Root is one component that helps nodes decide which chain to follow, as the longest chain of valid blocks (with correct Merkle Roots) usually wins.

Where Is the Merkle Root Stored in a Blockchain Block?

How Does a Block header’S Merkle Root Relate to the Immutability of the Block’s Transaction Data?

What Is a ‘Light Client’ and How Does It Utilize the Merkle Root?

What Is the Difference between the Merkle Root and the Block Hash?