Partially Synchronous Network

Definition ∞ A Partially Synchronous Network is a type of distributed system where message delivery times are bounded, but this bound is unknown or can vary. This model sits between fully synchronous networks, where message delays are strictly known, and asynchronous networks, where delays are arbitrary. It reflects a realistic environment for many blockchain systems.
Context ∞ The partially synchronous network model is crucial for analyzing the security and liveness properties of various blockchain consensus protocols. Designing protocols that achieve agreement and resist attacks under these conditions is a significant area of academic and practical research.