Provable Correctness

Definition ∞ Provable correctness is a property of a system or algorithm where its adherence to a specified behavior or set of rules can be mathematically demonstrated and verified. In the context of blockchain and cryptography, this often refers to the ability to prove that a computation or a protocol execution occurred as intended, without revealing the underlying data. It offers a high degree of assurance regarding system integrity. This concept is fundamental to trustless environments.
Context ∞ News reports on blockchain security, zero-knowledge proofs, or new consensus mechanisms frequently discuss provable correctness. This characteristic is paramount for building trust in decentralized systems where intermediaries are absent. The ongoing development of techniques to achieve provable correctness is a significant area of research.