Transactions Per Second (TPS)

Definition

Transactions per Second (TPS) is a fundamental metric used to quantify the throughput or capacity of a blockchain network in processing transactions over a specific period, typically one second. TPS represents the number of individual transactions that a blockchain network can handle and confirm within a given time frame. It is a crucial performance indicator for evaluating the scalability and efficiency of a blockchain network, as higher TPS values indicate a network's ability to handle a larger volume of transactions concurrently. Achieving high TPS is essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of blockchain networks, especially in applications requiring fast and scalable transaction processing, such as payment systems, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and gaming platforms. Various factors can influence a blockchain network's TPS, including its consensus mechanism, block size, transaction size, network latency, and scalability solutions like sharding or layer 2 protocols. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, increasing TPS remains a primary focus for developers and researchers to enhance the performance and usability of decentralized applications (DApps) and improve the overall user experience.