Message Fragmentation

Definition ∞ Message fragmentation is the process of dividing a large data message into smaller, more manageable units, or fragments, for transmission across a network. This technique is commonly employed to optimize network bandwidth usage, improve reliability over unreliable channels, or adhere to protocol-specific size limits. Each fragment is then sent independently and reassembled at the destination to reconstruct the original message. It is a standard practice in various communication protocols.
Context ∞ In blockchain technology, message fragmentation is relevant for optimizing data propagation and storage, especially in scaling solutions. News may discuss how layer-2 protocols or sharding designs utilize fragmentation to distribute transaction data more efficiently across network participants. The challenge lies in ensuring that all fragments are reliably transmitted and correctly reassembled, which directly impacts the speed and integrity of data processing on distributed ledgers.