Custom Gates

Definition ∞ Custom gates refer to specialized logical operations or functions defined within the algebraic circuits used for zero-knowledge proofs. These gates are tailored to represent specific computational steps more efficiently than standard, generic gates. They allow for optimized circuit design and improved performance in proof generation.
Context ∞ The development and deployment of custom gates are critical for enhancing the efficiency of zero-knowledge proof systems, which are vital for privacy and scalability in blockchain applications. Researchers consistently seek to define new custom gates that can represent common cryptographic operations, such as hash functions or elliptic curve arithmetic, more compactly within circuits. This reduces proof size and computation time, improving system utility.