What is a hard fork and how does it differ from a soft fork?

Hard fork and soft fork are two key terms in the world of blockchains that refer to changes in the network protocol. A hard fork implies significant and incompatible changes, after which two different blockchains are formed. This can lead to the creation of a new blockchain with its own rules, as was the case with Bitcoin Cash. Unlike a hard fork, a soft fork does not require a network split because the protocol changes are compatible with previous versions, allowing the creation of a new blockchain to be avoided. Both types of forks play an important role in the development of cryptocurrencies and improving network security.