Univariate Commitment Scheme

Definition ∞ A Univariate Commitment Scheme is a cryptographic method allowing a party to commit to a single polynomial, typically over a finite field, in a compact manner. This scheme enables efficient verification of polynomial properties or evaluations without revealing the polynomial itself. It serves as a foundational building block for many advanced zero-knowledge proof systems. The security of such schemes relies on strong cryptographic assumptions.
Context ∞ Univariate Commitment Schemes are fundamental to the construction of efficient and secure zero-knowledge proofs, especially in contexts where proofs of polynomial evaluations are required. Researchers continuously work on optimizing these schemes to reduce proof size and verification time. These schemes are instrumental in building scalable and private decentralized applications, supporting the broader adoption of blockchain technology.