Sparse Matrix

Definition ∞ A sparse matrix is a matrix in which most of the elements are zero. These matrices are often stored and manipulated using specialized algorithms that only store the non-zero elements, leading to significant savings in memory and computational resources. They are prevalent in various scientific and engineering applications.
Context ∞ Sparse matrices find application in advanced cryptographic constructions and computational tasks within blockchain technology, particularly in areas requiring efficient handling of large datasets with limited non-zero entries. While not a direct subject of crypto news, their underlying mathematical efficiency contributes to the performance of certain zero-knowledge proofs or graph-based algorithms used in decentralized systems. Optimizing operations with sparse matrices can improve the scalability of complex protocols.