Sub-Quadratic Communication

Definition ∞ Sub-quadratic communication refers to a communication complexity where the amount of data exchanged grows slower than the square of the input size. This is a desirable property in distributed systems and cryptographic protocols, especially for scalability, as it minimizes the bandwidth required for nodes to communicate and reach consensus. Achieving sub-quadratic communication is critical for improving the efficiency of large-scale blockchain networks and zero-knowledge proof systems. It directly impacts network latency and the overall cost of data transfer.
Context ∞ Sub-quadratic communication is a significant area of research in scaling blockchain networks and optimizing cryptographic proof systems. Achieving this level of efficiency is vital for enabling high transaction throughput and reducing the overhead for network participants. Ongoing efforts aim to develop protocols and data structures that can minimize communication costs, making decentralized systems more performant and accessible.