Definition ∞ Protocol communication complexity measures the amount of information exchanged between participants in a decentralized network to reach a common agreement. This metric quantifies the number of messages, their size, and the rounds of communication required for a blockchain protocol to achieve consensus or execute operations. High communication complexity can lead to network congestion, increased latency, and higher operational costs, especially as the number of participants grows. Designing protocols with low communication complexity is crucial for achieving scalability and efficiency in distributed systems. It directly impacts the speed and cost of validating transactions and maintaining the network state.
Context ∞ Discussions about protocol communication complexity are central to research and development efforts aimed at improving blockchain performance and scalability. News often covers new consensus algorithms or network architectures that promise to reduce this complexity, thereby enhancing transaction throughput and lowering fees. Understanding this technical aspect is vital for evaluating the efficiency and future viability of different blockchain platforms.
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