Polynomial Commitment Scheme

Definition ∞ A polynomial commitment scheme is a cryptographic primitive that allows a prover to commit to a polynomial in a way that later permits opening the commitment at specific points, proving the polynomial’s evaluation at those points without revealing the entire polynomial. This scheme is a foundational building block for many advanced zero-knowledge proof systems, enabling efficient and compact proofs of computation. It plays a vital role in constructing scalable and privacy-preserving blockchain solutions. The integrity of the commitment is secured by cryptographic assumptions.
Context ∞ Polynomial commitment schemes are a subject of intensive research in cryptography and are frequently mentioned in technical discussions about blockchain scaling and privacy protocols. Different schemes, such as KZG and FRI, are being developed and optimized to improve prover efficiency and verifier succinctness. The selection and implementation of a particular polynomial commitment scheme significantly influence the performance and security characteristics of zero-knowledge rollups and other layer-2 solutions, impacting the future of decentralized applications.