R1CS Circuit

Definition ∞ A Rank-1 Constraint System (R1CS) circuit is a mathematical representation used to express computational problems in a form suitable for zero-knowledge proofs, particularly SNARKs. It translates a program into a set of quadratic equations over a finite field. Proving knowledge of a solution to these equations demonstrates execution of the original computation without revealing the inputs.
Context ∞ R1CS circuits are fundamental to the construction of many zero-knowledge proof systems, which are increasingly vital for blockchain scalability and privacy solutions. The efficiency of converting complex computations into R1CS form directly impacts the performance of ZKP-based protocols. News discussing advancements in zero-knowledge technology often refers to the underlying mathematical structures like R1CS that enable these privacy and scaling benefits for decentralized applications.