Definition
Bitcoin’s difficulty adjustment is a core consensus mechanism that occurs every 2,016 blocks (approximately every two weeks). The protocol compares the actual time taken to mine the last 2,016 blocks against the expected time (20,160 minutes). If blocks were found faster, difficulty increases; if slower, it decreases.
The maximum adjustment per period is a factor of 4 (either direction), though such extreme adjustments have never occurred. This self-regulating mechanism ensures Bitcoin’s block production rate remains stable regardless of how much hashrate joins or leaves the network.
In Simple Terms
The automatic recalculation of mining difficulty every 2,016 blocks to maintain 10-minute block times.
The automatic recalibration of mining difficulty every 2,016 blocks to maintain the target 10-minute average block time.