Network Propagation Latency

Definition ∞ Network propagation latency is the time delay experienced by transactions and blocks as they travel across a decentralized network from one node to another. This delay can affect the ordering of transactions, the speed of block finality, and the overall efficiency of a blockchain. Lower latency is generally desirable for network performance.
Context ∞ Network propagation latency is a critical factor in blockchain scalability and security, particularly in proof-of-work systems where it can contribute to orphaned blocks or in proof-of-stake systems affecting consensus finality. News often discusses how network upgrades and geographical distribution of nodes aim to reduce this latency.