<p>Nothing formal, but "latest block" pretty much describes it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-21T03:04:26.640Z
2015-03-21T03:04:26.640Z
Jimmy Song
<p>The Bitcoin source code refers to it as the 'tip,' e.g., <code>UpdateTip</code>, <code>SetTip</code>, <code>ConnectTip</code>. It's sometimes referred to as the latest block; that's not totally accurate, since the latest block is not always the tip.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-21T03:35:18.283Z
This is more what I was looking for. "Latest block" seems to imply more finality than what exists in reality.
Matthew Roberts
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-21T03:22:39.030Z
2015-03-27T06:23:50.740Z
2015-03-27T06:23:50.740Z
Nick ODell
<p>Just as we have the genesis block which is block 0, is there a special name for the block currently at the head of the chain? Obviously such a block would be observer dependent and never absolute but I am curious all the same.</p>

<blockchain><block><terminology><height>
Is there a special name for the block currently at the head of the chain?
Matthew Roberts
# Is there a special name for the block currently at the head of the chain?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-21)

Just as we have the genesis block which is block 0, is there a special name for the block currently at the head of the chain? Obviously such a block would be observer dependent and never absolute but I am curious all the same.

**Tags:** blockchain, block, terminology, height


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-21. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The Bitcoin source code refers to it as the 'tip,' e.g., `UpdateTip`, `SetTip`, `ConnectTip`. It's sometimes referred to as the latest block; that's not totally accurate, since the latest block is not always the tip.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is more what I was looking for. "Latest block" seems to imply more finality than what exists in reality.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-03-21. Score: 0

Nothing formal, but "latest block" pretty much describes it.


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