Definition ∞ A technique used to decrease the number of possible states or configurations within a system being analyzed. This simplification makes complex systems more manageable for computation or verification. By eliminating redundant or irrelevant states, it significantly reduces the computational resources required for analysis. This method is crucial in formal verification and model checking.
Context ∞ State space reduction is a critical concept in the formal verification of smart contracts and blockchain protocols, often appearing in technical crypto news. Developers employ this technique to prove the correctness and security of decentralized applications by reducing the complexity of their potential behaviors. This process helps identify and prevent vulnerabilities before deployment on live networks.