<p>It returns all branches your node knows about.</p>

<p>Note that your node cannot know anything about branches that occurred while your node was still syncing, as you only get the active best chain from your peers.</p>

<p>Also, if you are connected to a single node only for a while, then you will during that time not hear about any branches, as you only get to see the best chain as it is determined by your peer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-02T23:16:32.483Z
How long does getchaintips keep the data on these other branches? Is it indefinite or does the list get flushed after a certain amount of time?
Matthew Peterson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-02T23:19:59.463Z
They are kept forever.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-02T17:36:47.413Z
2016-08-03T05:41:57.153Z
2016-08-03T05:41:57.153Z
Pieter Wuille
<p>I've just restarted my node. When I run <code>getchaintips</code>, it only gives me 48 tips (the lowest being at a height of 402,609).</p>

<p>Does <code>getchaintips</code> only return a limited number of branch tips? If so, is it possible to get more branches?</p>

<blockchain><bitcoin-cli><blockchain-fork>
How to get more chain tips from getchaintips?
inersha
# How to get more chain tips from getchaintips?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-02)

I've just restarted my node. When I run `getchaintips`, it only gives me 48 tips (the lowest being at a height of 402,609).

Does `getchaintips` only return a limited number of branch tips? If so, is it possible to get more branches?

**Tags:** blockchain, bitcoin-cli, blockchain-fork


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-02. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It returns all branches your node knows about.

Note that your node cannot know anything about branches that occurred while your node was still syncing, as you only get the active best chain from your peers.

Also, if you are connected to a single node only for a while, then you will during that time not hear about any branches, as you only get to see the best chain as it is determined by your peer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: How long does getchaintips keep the data on these other branches? Is it indefinite or does the list get flushed after a certain amount of time?  
> **username_1**: They are kept forever.  

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