<p>I am not aware of a clear definition for the term zombie channels. At least I don't recall the term being used in the lightning rfc. Also I didn't hear lightning devs in conversations to talk about them. Thus I think the semantics are more along your suggestion that they refer to channels which are for some reason obsolete / inactive / unusable. Disclaimet: just because I never saw the term doesn't mean it has no definition </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-20T08:54:52.323Z
2019-09-20T08:54:52.323Z
Rene Pickhardt
<p>Most of the articles that I have read refer to channels/nodes that haven't sent <code>channel_update</code> or <code>node_announcement</code> message for a long time (often weeks) as zombies. They say, a node who wants to route a lightning payment cannot rely on a path containing these nodes (hence zombies).</p>

<p>But that is a fuzzy notion since nodes will not send these update messages if the user hasn't updated any information about the node/channel. That would be unsolicited and spam. </p>

<p>I think that is the very reason this term does not appear in any formal documentations/specs like BOLTs and as a result lack a formal definition.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-20T10:08:28.883Z
2019-09-23T06:19:45.147Z
2019-09-23T06:19:45.147Z
Ugam Kamat
<p>In the Lightning Network, what is the definition of a <em>zombie channel</em>?</p>

<p>Can they clearly be identified or is it more of a undefined term that is used for channels that are assumed to be obsolete?</p>

<lightning-network><channels>
What are Zombie Channels?
Dalit Sairio
# What are Zombie Channels?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-20)

In the Lightning Network, what is the definition of a *zombie channel*?

Can they clearly be identified or is it more of a undefined term that is used for channels that are assumed to be obsolete?

**Tags:** lightning-network, channels


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-09-20. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

I am not aware of a clear definition for the term zombie channels. At least I don't recall the term being used in the lightning rfc. Also I didn't hear lightning devs in conversations to talk about them. Thus I think the semantics are more along your suggestion that they refer to channels which are for some reason obsolete / inactive / unusable. Disclaimet: just because I never saw the term doesn't mean it has no definition


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-09-20. Score: 0

Most of the articles that I have read refer to channels/nodes that haven't sent `channel_update` or `node_announcement` message for a long time (often weeks) as zombies. They say, a node who wants to route a lightning payment cannot rely on a path containing these nodes (hence zombies).

But that is a fuzzy notion since nodes will not send these update messages if the user hasn't updated any information about the node/channel. That would be unsolicited and spam.

I think that is the very reason this term does not appear in any formal documentations/specs like BOLTs and as a result lack a formal definition.


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