Verification Overhead

Definition ∞ Verification overhead refers to the computational resources, such as processing power and time, required to confirm the correctness of a cryptographic proof or a set of operations. In blockchain systems, this describes the effort nodes expend to validate transactions and blocks. Reducing verification overhead is essential for improving network scalability and efficiency. It directly impacts the speed and cost of decentralized systems.
Context ∞ Verification overhead is a central concern in the design of scalable blockchain architectures, particularly with zero-knowledge proofs and other advanced cryptographic primitives. Researchers continuously seek methods to reduce this overhead through more efficient algorithms and specialized hardware. Lowering verification costs is crucial for enabling widespread adoption of decentralized applications and increasing network capacity.