How Does a Merkle Proof Allow a Light Client to Verify a Transaction?
A Merkle Proof provides the minimal set of hashes required to verify that a specific transaction is included in a block, without downloading the entire block. A light client only needs the Merkle Root of the block and the proof (a branch of hashes from the transaction up to the root) to confirm the transaction's existence.
The client re-computes the path and checks if the final hash matches the known Merkle Root.
Glossar
Light Client
Architecture ⎊ A Light Client represents a streamlined architectural component in a blockchain network that verifies transactions and block headers without downloading the entire ledger history.
Merkle Proof
Attestation ⎊ A Merkle Proof, within cryptocurrency and derivative markets, functions as a succinct cryptographic verification of data integrity, enabling efficient validation of transactions without requiring full dataset transmission.
Branch of Hashes
Derivation ⎊ Branch of Hashes, within cryptocurrency and financial derivatives, represents a deterministic process of generating unique identifiers from input data, crucial for blockchain integrity and cryptographic security.