Block Commitment

Definition ∞ Block commitment refers to the process where a block of transactions becomes a permanent part of a blockchain’s history. This occurs after a sufficient number of subsequent blocks have been added, making reversal computationally impractical. It signifies the network’s consensus on the validity and finality of the transactions within that block. Achieving strong commitment is vital for network security and transaction certainty.
Context ∞ The speed and certainty of block commitment are key metrics in blockchain performance discussions, especially for payment systems requiring rapid finality. Debates frequently involve the trade-offs between decentralization, security, and transaction throughput in achieving optimal commitment levels. Future protocol upgrades often aim to improve commitment times while maintaining robust network security.