Prefix Sum Query

Definition ∞ A Prefix Sum Query is a computational operation that requests the sum of all elements in a data structure up to a specified index. In cryptographic contexts, this query can be performed efficiently on specialized data structures, allowing for verifiable computations over subsets of data without processing the entire dataset. It aids in data aggregation.
Context ∞ Prefix sum queries are applied in various cryptographic protocols and data verification schemes, particularly within zero-knowledge proofs, to efficiently verify properties of large datasets. Optimizations in performing these queries are critical for improving the performance of privacy-preserving applications.