Block Time
The average time it takes a network to produce a new block, a key parameter shaping transaction speed, security assumptions, and finality.
Block time is the average time it takes a network to produce a new block — a fundamental network parameter that shapes how quickly a transaction can expect to be included, how a network's difficulty adjustment (see Kaavon's "Difficulty Adjustment" glossary definition) is designed, and how many confirmations are needed for reasonable finality.
Different networks deliberately target very different block times as part of their core design trade-offs — a shorter block time generally means faster transaction inclusion, but can also mean more frequent temporary forks (see Kaavon's "Reorg" glossary definition) as nodes occasionally produce competing blocks before fully hearing about each other's latest block.
Examples
- A network targeting a shorter block time generally offers faster transaction inclusion, at the cost of somewhat more frequent temporary forks between competing blocks.
- Block time is a core network design parameter, not a fixed law of blockchain technology — different networks deliberately choose very different targets.