A bifurcation implies a division into branches or parts.
Before entering fully into clarifying the meaning of the term bifurcation , we must begin to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can establish that it is a word of Latin origin, since it derives from “bifurcatio” and the same word from “bifurcus”. This term is the result of the sum of two clearly differentiated parts:
-The prefix “bi-”, which can be translated as “two”.
-The noun “hurca”, which is used to refer to a pitchfork that has two prongs.
Fork concept
Bifurcation is the act and result of bifurcating or bifurcating : the division into two appendages, parts, or branches. The place where something forks is called a bifurcation, therefore.
For example: “To get to the lagoon you have to follow this path for about ten kilometers; then you will find a fork, you must turn left and advance two more kilometers” , “The criminals fled together until a fork, where each one took their own path” , “The fork of the canal allows the water to reach all the towns in the region.”
Paths , such as highways (routes), streets or avenues, can have forks to reach different places or to avoid some type of obstacle . It can be said that a fork implies that the road in question divides into two: one goes to the left and the other goes to the right.
When two or more paths emerge from a path, it is called a bifurcation.
The term in geography
In the field of geography , the division of the most important current of a river into two is called a bifurcation.
The Orinoco River, to cite one case, has a fork in the state of Amazonas that gives rise to the Casiquiare channel , also known as the Casiquiare arm . With a route of more than 300 kilometers, the Casiquiare links the Orinoco with the Amazon River, of which it is a tributary through the Negro River.
Bifurcation in mathematics and computer science
The bifurcation theory , in the field of mathematics, analyzes the alterations in the topological or qualitative structure of the behavior of a system of equations. Software manufacturers, on the other hand, appeal to the idea of forking to refer to the development of a project that takes a different direction from the main one, starting from the same source code that already exists.
The term bifurcation used with respect to computing, we can say that it differs when it comes to proprietary software. And in this case the term in question is used to refer to the creation of two versions of the same program so that it can be used on different operating systems.
In this way, what is achieved is to expand the market, improve business figures and adapt to the needs of different types of clients.
The term associated with bitcoin
In the field of finance there is also talk of bifurcation. More precisely, it is used in the field of bitcoin , the well-known payment and merchandise system. Specifically, in this area it is used as a synonym for various facts, elements or situations:
-It is used to mention what is an update of the code of the aforementioned bitcoin.
-As block code.
-In the same way, it is also used as a synonym for bitcoin source code clone.