Definition
A zero-knowledge proof is a cryptographic construct in which a prover convinces a verifier that a given statement is true without revealing any additional information beyond the statement’s validity. It formalizes completeness, soundness, and zero-knowledge properties within an interactive or non-interactive protocol, and is widely used to enable privacy-preserving verification and succinct attestations of computations or data relationships.
In Simple Terms
A zero-knowledge proof is a way for one party to prove that something is true without revealing why it is true or exposing the underlying data. The verifier learns only that the statement holds, and nothing else about the secret information used to generate the proof.
Context and Usage
Zero-knowledge proofs are discussed in the context of privacy-preserving cryptography, verifiable computation, and blockchain scalability and confidentiality. They appear in protocol designs for private transactions, off-chain computation attestation, and succinct validation of state or data integrity. Research on their security assumptions, proof sizes, and verification costs is central in both academic cryptography and applied blockchain engineering.