Data Deduplication

Definition ∞ Data deduplication is a process that identifies and removes duplicate copies of data, storing only unique instances. This technique significantly reduces storage requirements and bandwidth consumption by replacing redundant data blocks with pointers to a single stored copy. It operates by analyzing data at a granular level, often block-by-block, to ascertain identical content regardless of file name or location. For large-scale data systems, this method provides substantial operational efficiencies and cost savings.
Context ∞ Within digital asset infrastructure, data deduplication becomes relevant for optimizing the storage footprint of blockchain nodes or decentralized file systems. As blockchain data grows, efficient data management strategies like deduplication can mitigate the escalating costs associated with maintaining full node copies or archival records for compliance purposes. Its application helps reduce the overhead for network participants and data providers, contributing to the scalability and economic viability of distributed ledgers.