Smart Contract Overhead

Definition ∞ Smart contract overhead refers to the additional computational resources, typically gas or execution steps, consumed by a smart contract beyond its core functional logic. This includes costs associated with data storage, external calls, logging events, and internal EVM operations. Minimizing overhead is crucial for reducing transaction fees and improving the overall efficiency of decentralized applications. It impacts user experience and economic viability.
Context ∞ Smart contract overhead is a continuous concern for developers and users within blockchain ecosystems, particularly on networks like Ethereum. News often discusses optimization techniques, language improvements, or network upgrades designed to reduce these costs. Lowering overhead is a key factor in making decentralized applications more accessible and economically sustainable for a wider user base.