Definition ∞ Consensus latency bounds specify the maximum time allowed for all network participants to agree on a new block or transaction state. These parameters define the upper limit on the delay before a transaction or block achieves finality within a distributed ledger system. They are critical for system performance and user experience, directly impacting transaction confirmation times. Strict bounds help ensure predictable network operation and prevent prolonged disagreements among nodes.
Context ∞ News concerning blockchain scalability and transaction finality often references consensus latency bounds. Projects developing high-throughput blockchains frequently highlight their success in reducing these bounds to support broader application use cases. Debates center on optimizing these limits without compromising security or decentralization, a fundamental challenge in distributed system design.