Low Communication Complexity

Definition ∞ Low communication complexity describes a system design characteristic where the amount of data exchanged between its constituent components is minimal. In distributed computing and blockchain networks, this signifies that nodes require fewer messages or smaller data packets to coordinate and reach a common state. Minimizing communication overhead is crucial for improving scalability, reducing latency, and enhancing overall system efficiency. This property is particularly important in environments with high network latency or bandwidth constraints.
Context ∞ Low communication complexity is a significant factor in the design and optimization of blockchain consensus mechanisms, especially those aiming for high transaction throughput. News often reports on new protocols that claim to achieve consensus with reduced inter-node communication, thereby enhancing network performance. Debates center on balancing this efficiency with security and decentralization requirements. Future research focuses on developing algorithms that achieve robust agreement with even lower communication overhead.