Horizontal Scaling

Definition ∞ Horizontal Scaling is a method of increasing the capacity of a system by adding more processing units or nodes to a distributed network. Instead of upgrading individual components, this approach distributes the workload across a larger number of independent machines. It allows for greater transaction throughput and improved system responsiveness. This is a common strategy for handling increased demand.
Context ∞ For blockchain networks, horizontal scaling is a key strategy for addressing the persistent challenge of transaction speed and volume. Solutions like sharding and certain layer-2 architectures implement horizontal scaling to process more transactions concurrently. Its successful application is vital for achieving widespread adoption of decentralized applications and digital assets.