Message Complexity Bounds

Definition ∞ Message complexity bounds define the maximum amount of communication overhead required for a distributed system to achieve consensus or complete a specific task. These bounds quantify the number of messages exchanged between network participants to reach a desired state. They are a critical measure of efficiency and scalability in decentralized protocols. Optimizing message complexity is essential for networks to operate efficiently, especially as the number of participants increases.
Context ∞ Message complexity bounds are a central consideration in the design and analysis of distributed consensus algorithms, particularly in the context of blockchain scalability. Researchers and developers frequently work to reduce these bounds to improve network throughput and reduce latency. News reports on new consensus mechanisms or protocol upgrades often highlight improvements in message efficiency as a key benefit. Minimizing communication overhead is a continuous goal for enhancing the performance of decentralized systems.