Can you explain what is altcoin?

[Ayers]

altcoin are alternative blockchain to bitcoin, an hardfork of bitcoin, you can call them in this way, they often used to earn you bitcoin undirectly because bitcoin is not really minable anymore, but many of those alt are scam beaware

[blackhawkeye1912]

What is altcoin can you explain in steps ?

Altcoin base on we at I learned in this forum thread it is an alternative crypto currency, please excuse me for repeating the answers of other's here, as we all know bitcoin is the Father and the mother of all altcoins the original one. Meaning they are just like a back up replacement if ever bitcoin  will disappear, though in real its not gonna happen.

[memequiserle]

An altcoin is a slap in the face of Bitcoin.

without altcoin bitcoin is still run and work
so not big reason about youre write and statement
but altcoin will support the development and introduction of bitcoin to much people, can incraese volume transaction bitcoin too

[Spoetnik]

Altcoin is a way to get Bitcoins.