Definition ∞ Polylogarithmic Overhead describes a computational cost that increases very slowly as the size of the input data grows. Specifically, it means the resources required scale proportionally to a polynomial function of the logarithm of the input size. This type of efficiency is highly desirable in cryptographic systems, especially for proof verification, because it allows for verification of very large computations with minimal additional cost. It represents a significant improvement over linear or polynomial scaling.
Context ∞ Crypto news often highlights systems achieving polylogarithmic overhead, particularly in the context of zero-knowledge proofs and scalable blockchain solutions. This efficiency metric is a key differentiator for advanced proof systems like STARKs, which offer strong scalability guarantees. The ongoing goal in cryptographic research is to develop protocols that consistently exhibit such low overhead, making verifiable computation practical for massive datasets and complex applications.
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