Computation Integrity

Definition ∞ Computation integrity ensures that a computation, once executed, has produced the correct output according to its specified logic and inputs. In blockchain and cryptographic systems, this means verifying that a program ran exactly as intended, without any unauthorized alterations or errors. It is a fundamental property for trustless environments, allowing parties to rely on the outcome of a computation without needing to re-execute it themselves. This property is vital for maintaining the security and reliability of decentralized applications.
Context ∞ Computation integrity is a critical focus within zero-knowledge proofs and verifiable computation, which are frequently discussed in crypto news concerning scalability and privacy solutions. These technologies permit one party to prove the correct execution of a computation to another without revealing the underlying data. The advancement of such proving systems aims to offload complex calculations from main blockchains while maintaining absolute certainty of their accuracy. This area is seeing rapid development to enhance the efficiency and verifiability of off-chain operations.