Definition ∞ Sharded Data Availability refers to a system where a blockchain’s data is divided and distributed across multiple network segments, known as shards. This architecture allows each shard to process and store only a subset of the total data, significantly increasing the network’s overall data processing capacity. It improves scalability by enabling parallel transaction processing. This mechanism is crucial for high-throughput blockchains.
Context ∞ Sharded data availability is a central component of various blockchain scaling roadmaps, particularly for networks aiming to support a global scale of decentralized applications. News coverage often highlights progress and challenges in implementing sharding solutions, as it promises to dramatically reduce transaction fees and increase network speed. Its successful deployment is expected to transform blockchain performance.