Non-Decreasing Order

Definition ∞ Non-decreasing order describes a sequence of elements where each subsequent element is either greater than or equal to the preceding element. In blockchain systems, this principle often applies to transaction sequencing or block timestamps, ensuring a consistent and predictable progression of events. It is a fundamental property for maintaining the chronological integrity and logical consistency of a distributed ledger. Adherence to this order is vital for preventing certain types of attacks and maintaining data coherence.
Context ∞ The concept of non-decreasing order is crucial for the security and functionality of many blockchain protocols, particularly in preventing issues like timestamp manipulation or reordering attacks. Discussions frequently address how various consensus mechanisms uphold this ordering property, especially in the context of transaction finality and censorship resistance. Ensuring a verifiable non-decreasing order is a design goal for robust decentralized systems.