Core Protocolproof-of-history
Proof of History (PoH)
Also known asPoH
A clock mechanism that cryptographically proves the passage of time between events. PoH uses a sequential SHA-256 hash chain where each output becomes the next input, creating a verifiable ordering of events without requiring consensus. The leader produces ~400,000 hashes per slot (~400ms), and any validator can verify the sequence in parallel, enabling Solana's high throughput by removing the need for validators to agree on time.
Related terms
3Core Protocol
Slot
A time window during which a designated leader validator can produce a block. Each slot lasts approximately 400 millisec...
Core Protocol
Leader Schedule
A deterministic mapping of slots to validators for an entire epoch, computed from stake weights. Validators with more st...
Core Protocol
VDF (Verifiable Delay Function)
Verifiable Delay Function—a function that takes a prescribed amount of sequential computation to evaluate but whose outp...