Definition ∞ A Merkle commitment is a cryptographic pledge to a specific dataset, allowing for efficient verification of its contents without revealing all data. It involves computing the root hash of a Merkle tree, which is a hierarchical hash structure where each leaf node represents a data block and each non-leaf node is a hash of its children. This single root hash serves as a compact and secure summary of the entire dataset. A Merkle proof can then verify the inclusion of any specific data element within the committed dataset.
Context ∞ Merkle commitments are fundamental to the integrity and efficiency of blockchain technology, frequently discussed in the context of transaction verification and data storage. They enable light clients to verify transactions without downloading the entire blockchain and are critical for scalability solutions like rollups. Ongoing research in zero-knowledge proofs often builds upon Merkle tree structures to achieve more compact and private commitments, enhancing the capabilities of decentralized systems.
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