Health Factor Metrics
Health factor metrics provide a real-time, numerical indicator of the safety of a loan position in a decentralized lending protocol. It is typically calculated as the ratio of the value of the collateral to the value of the debt, adjusted for the liquidation threshold.
A health factor above one indicates that the position is safe, while a factor falling toward or below one signals an impending liquidation. This metric is essential for users to monitor their own risk, as it clearly defines how close they are to losing their collateral.
Protocols often use this metric to trigger automated liquidation processes when the threshold is crossed. Because crypto prices are volatile, users must maintain a buffer in their health factor to avoid liquidation during minor market dips.
Understanding how this factor changes with price and collateral value is a fundamental skill for anyone using DeFi lending services. It simplifies complex risk data into an actionable number.