# Distributed Consensus **Distributed Consensus** is a key principle of [decentralization](/glossary/definitions/decentralization.md). It refers to the process by which a network of distributed nodes, or participants, reach a consensus or agreement on the state of the network or the validity of a transaction. This allows for the creation of a trusted, shared record of transactions without the need for a central authority or intermediary. In a decentralized system, each node in the network maintains a copy of the ledger, or record of transactions, and participates in the consensus process. This ensures that the ledger is distributed and redundant, making it resistant to tampering or corruption. The use of distributed consensus allows for trust to be established in a decentralized system without relying on a central authority. This can make decentralized systems more secure, transparent, and efficient than traditional centralized systems.\ \ [Proof-of-Work](/glossary/definitions/decentralization/distributed-consensus/proof-of-work.md) (PoW) and [Proof-of-Stake](/glossary/definitions/decentralization/distributed-consensus/proof-of-stake.md) (PoS) are two popular examples of distributed consensus mechanisms used to validate transactions on a blockchain. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.allforone.app/glossary/definitions/decentralization/distributed-consensus.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.