Logarithmic Memory Cost

Definition ∞ Logarithmic memory cost refers to a computational resource requirement that grows proportionally to the logarithm of the input size, rather than linearly or exponentially. In the context of blockchain technology, this implies that the memory needed to process or store data increases at a much slower rate as the amount of data expands. This efficiency is highly desirable for scalable and resource-constrained decentralized systems. It permits handling larger datasets with manageable memory consumption.
Context ∞ Discussions around logarithmic memory cost often appear in news concerning optimizations for blockchain nodes or zero-knowledge proofs. Protocols striving for greater scalability and reduced operational overhead seek to implement data structures and algorithms with this property. Achieving logarithmic memory cost is a significant technical advancement for decentralized network efficiency and long-term viability.