请用三个句子，分别用中文和英文回答什么是共识算法。英文句子要求用一般现在时表述。
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共识算法是一种确保分布式系统中多个节点对某个值或状态达成一致的机制。它通常用于去中心化网络，以保证数据一致性和系统可靠性。

Consensus algorithms are mechanisms used to ensure that multiple nodes in a distributed system agree on a value or state. They are commonly employed in decentralized networks to guarantee data consistency and system reliability.
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