Sublinear Verifier Runtime

Definition ∞ Sublinear verifier runtime describes a property of certain cryptographic proof systems where the time required to verify a proof is less than linear with respect to the size of the computation being proven. This means that even for very complex computations, the verification process remains highly efficient. Such systems are crucial for scalability in blockchain technology, allowing for quick and lightweight validation of extensive computations. They are fundamental to zero-knowledge proofs.
Context ∞ In the context of blockchain scalability and privacy, sublinear verifier runtime is a key technical concept often discussed in news about layer-2 solutions and zero-knowledge rollups. These technologies leverage efficient proof verification to process numerous transactions off-chain and then submit a single, verifiable proof to the main chain. Advances in achieving sublinear verifier runtime are critical for improving the transaction throughput and reducing the computational burden on decentralized networks.