Reed-Solomon Codes

Definition ∞ Reed-Solomon Codes are a class of error-correcting codes widely used in digital communications and storage to detect and correct errors in data transmission. These mathematical codes add redundant information to data, enabling reconstruction even if parts of the original data are lost or corrupted. They provide a robust method for ensuring data integrity and availability. This coding scheme is particularly effective against burst errors, where multiple consecutive bits are affected.
Context ∞ Reed-Solomon Codes are frequently mentioned in news about data availability layers for blockchain scaling solutions, particularly in the context of rollups. Their application helps ensure that transaction data posted to the main chain can be reliably retrieved and verified, even if some nodes fail. This technology is crucial for the security and efficiency of off-chain computation.