Definition
An Ethereum fork is a modification of the Ethereum blockchain’s underlying protocol that results in a new version of the network’s rules or code. Forks can be planned upgrades that most participants adopt, or they can lead to competing versions of the chain when groups disagree on changes. In either case, a fork marks a point where the blockchain’s history or rules diverge from what came before.
As a concept, an Ethereum fork can involve changes to how transactions are processed, how blocks are validated, or how the network handles features like fees and smart contracts. When the community broadly agrees and upgrades together, the fork simply becomes the next stage of Ethereum’s evolution. When there is disagreement and different groups follow different rule sets, the fork can create separate chains with their own ongoing histories and native assets.
In Simple Terms
In simple terms, an Ethereum fork is like updating or changing the rulebook that Ethereum follows. Sometimes everyone moves to the new rulebook, and the network continues as one chain with improved features. Other times, part of the community keeps using the old rulebook, so two versions of Ethereum continue side by side, each recording its own blocks and transactions.
This concept helps explain why there can be different versions or histories related to Ethereum, even though they started from the same original chain. A fork does not erase past data; it defines how the chain continues from a specific point onward under a new or modified set of rules.