Consensus Primitive

Definition ∞ A consensus primitive is a fundamental building block or algorithm used to achieve agreement among distributed, independent computing nodes. These basic mechanisms allow a decentralized network to agree on a single, shared state or value despite potential failures or malicious actions. Examples include atomic broadcast or leader election protocols. Such primitives form the foundation for secure and consistent distributed systems like blockchains.
Context ∞ The selection and implementation of specific consensus primitives are critical for determining a blockchain’s security, scalability, and decentralization properties. Research efforts frequently focus on developing more efficient and robust primitives to overcome limitations in existing protocols. News often covers innovations in these underlying mechanisms, impacting the performance and reliability of various digital asset networks.