Definition
A zk-SNARK (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge) is a cryptographic proof system that enables one party to convince another that a given computation or statement is correct, without revealing any additional information about the underlying data. It is characterized by zero-knowledge, succinct proof size, non-interactivity between prover and verifier, and an argument-of-knowledge security notion under specific cryptographic assumptions.
In Simple Terms
A zk-SNARK is a compact cryptographic proof that shows a statement about hidden data is true, without exposing the data itself. It lets a prover mathematically demonstrate correctness of a computation in a way that a verifier can quickly check, using a single proof and without any back-and-forth communication.
Context and Usage
zk-SNARKs are defined and analyzed within modern cryptography and are frequently discussed in the context of privacy-preserving blockchain protocols, verifiable computation, and scalability-oriented proof systems. They appear in research on proof systems, succinct arguments, and zero-knowledge constructions, and are often contrasted with other proof frameworks when specifying protocol security models, trust assumptions, and formal properties of cryptographic systems.