Sharding

Definition ∞ Sharding is a database partitioning technique that divides a large database into smaller, more manageable segments called shards. Each shard contains a unique subset of the data and can process transactions independently. In blockchain networks, sharding improves scalability by allowing multiple transactions to be processed in parallel across different segments of the network. This significantly increases transaction throughput.
Context ∞ Sharding is a widely discussed solution for enhancing the scalability of public blockchain networks, such as Ethereum, to support a greater volume of transactions. News often covers the technical complexities and implementation progress of sharding proposals. A critical future development involves the successful deployment and stabilization of sharded blockchain architectures, which are expected to dramatically increase network capacity and reduce transaction costs for digital assets.