Write Amplification

Definition ∞ Write amplification is a phenomenon in data storage systems where the actual amount of data written to physical storage media is significantly greater than the logical amount of data the user intends to write. This occurs due to internal operations like garbage collection, wear leveling, and data replication. In blockchain, it can refer to the overhead associated with maintaining distributed ledger consistency. High write amplification can degrade storage device lifespan and system performance.
Context ∞ In blockchain and distributed ledger technology, write amplification is a critical concern for the scalability and efficiency of node operations. News might discuss how different consensus mechanisms or data storage solutions attempt to minimize this effect. Reducing write amplification is a key objective for optimizing blockchain performance and reducing the operational costs of running nodes.