Cryptographic Commitments

Definition ∞ Cryptographic commitments are a technique where one party commits to a value without revealing it, while allowing the other party to verify the commitment later. This process binds a party to a specific piece of data, ensuring its integrity and immutability. They are fundamental to many zero-knowledge proof systems and secure multi-party computation protocols.
Context ∞ The development and application of cryptographic commitments are central to advancements in privacy-preserving technologies within the blockchain space. Discussions often revolve around their computational overhead, security guarantees, and suitability for specific use cases like private transactions or verifiable computation. Innovations in this area directly impact the potential for more secure and scalable decentralized applications.