Computational Effort

Definition ∞ Computational effort refers to the amount of work a computer system expends to complete a task. It quantifies the resources, such as processing power and time, required for an operation. This metric indicates the cost associated with executing an algorithm or validating data. In blockchain, it often relates to the difficulty of cryptographic puzzles.
Context ∞ News about digital assets frequently references computational effort in the context of mining cryptocurrencies or securing proof-of-work blockchains. Debates often surround the environmental impact of high energy consumption and the ongoing search for more sustainable consensus mechanisms. Reducing this effort while maintaining security remains a significant area of development for future blockchain iterations.