Partial Vector Agreement

Definition ∞ Partial Vector Agreement describes a consensus mechanism or decision-making process where only a subset of network participants needs to agree on a particular state or transaction for it to be considered valid. This contrasts with full consensus, which requires agreement from a supermajority or all participants. Such an approach can significantly increase the speed and scalability of distributed systems by reducing the number of nodes required for each decision. It often involves delegating authority or using probabilistic finality.
Context ∞ Partial Vector Agreement is an evolving concept in distributed systems and blockchain research, particularly relevant for achieving higher transaction throughput in decentralized networks. Discussions currently address the security implications of reduced participation in consensus, the methods for selecting the agreeing subset of nodes, and the trade-offs between speed and decentralization. Future advancements will likely explore hybrid consensus models that balance efficiency with robust security guarantees.