Time Delayed Communication

Definition ∞ Time delayed communication refers to the intentional introduction of a delay in the transmission or processing of information within a system. This mechanism can be used to prevent certain types of attacks, such as front-running, or to ensure fair ordering of events by allowing all participants a chance to respond. It helps in synchronizing actions across a distributed network by standardizing processing windows. Such delays can enhance the security and fairness of decentralized protocols.
Context ∞ The implementation of time delayed communication is a design consideration in decentralized finance and blockchain protocols to mitigate exploits related to transaction ordering. News often discusses specific protocol upgrades that incorporate these delays to improve market fairness. The challenge involves optimizing delay durations to achieve security benefits without excessively hindering network efficiency.