Decoupled Correctness

Definition ∞ Decoupled correctness refers to a system design where the verification of data integrity or computation is separated from its execution. In blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, this concept implies that the process of confirming a transaction’s validity or a smart contract’s execution result can occur independently of the initial processing step. This separation can enhance scalability by allowing different network participants or layers to specialize in either execution or validation. It promotes modularity and can improve overall system throughput by reducing bottlenecks associated with tightly coupled operations.
Context ∞ Decoupled correctness is a key architectural consideration in advanced blockchain designs, particularly in layer-2 scaling solutions and sharded networks. News reports on new scaling technologies often discuss how they achieve higher transaction rates by separating execution from validation, for example, in optimistic rollups or zero-knowledge rollups. The security implications of this architectural choice, specifically how validation is guaranteed without direct execution, are frequently analyzed.