The process of fetching blockchain information to initiate a blockchain in a local environment is called node synchronization or state synchronization.
- Node synchronization is the process by which a blockchain node downloads and updates its copy of the blockchain ledger to ensure it matches the current state of the network. This involves downloading blocks and transactions from other nodes and verifying them according to the blockchain's consensus rules to maintain consistency and integrity across the network
- State synchronization refers more specifically to the process where a new or recovering node catches up with the current state of other operational nodes, often by downloading snapshots or incremental updates of the blockchain state. This enables faster synchronization without having to process the entire history from genesis, while still ensuring security and correctness
- In practical terms, this process can involve downloading offline blockchain data packages or using specialized tools (like Cardano DB Sync for Cardano blockchain) that create and maintain a synchronized local database copy of the blockchain data for development or analysis purposes
In summary, the technical term for the process of fetching blockchain data to start or update a local blockchain environment is typically known as node synchronization or state synchronization.
