Merkle Tree Structure

Definition ∞ A Merkle tree structure is a hierarchical data arrangement that uses cryptographic hash functions to summarize and verify large sets of data efficiently. It organizes data into a tree-like form where each leaf node is a hash of a data block, and each non-leaf node is a hash of its child nodes’ hashes. The single root hash, known as the Merkle root, provides a concise cryptographic fingerprint of all underlying data. This structure enables compact proof verification.
Context ∞ Merkle tree structures are foundational to blockchain technology, frequently mentioned in news concerning transaction verification, data integrity, and scalability solutions. Their use in Bitcoin and Ethereum allows for efficient validation of transactions within blocks without processing every single one. Advances in zero-knowledge proofs often build upon or interact with Merkle trees for data aggregation and verification.