> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sense4fit.gitbook.io/whitepaper/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sense4fit.gitbook.io/whitepaper/blockchain/adaptive-state-sharding.md).

# Adaptive State Sharding

Adaptive State Sharding is the superlative of blockchain sharding, which is the term that refers to the procedure of dividing a whole blockchain into smaller, more manageable datasets for maximum efficiency. Elrond is the first network to implement Adaptive State Sharding that simultaneously combines three standard sharding components in order to speed up transactions through parallel processing. Hence, creating an information distribution system that can execute up to 15,000 transactions per second with a six-second block time and at a cost of only one cent per transaction.

This low cost is achieved as a result of Elrond’s ability to operate via common PC devices as opposed to sophisticated processors, having low-cost computers results in a lower cost per transaction and brings the energy required for processing a transaction up to 6 million times lower than average, highlighting its environmental consciousness.

The term block time refers to the duration that it takes validators within a network to verify transactions within one block and produce a new block in the blockchain, the average number for Bitcoin is 7 transactions per second, this puts into perspective the substantial supremacy that Elrond has in this category.

Moreover, it is praised as being an internet-scale blockchain due to its extraordinary design of handling transactional throughput on par with major internet platforms, as opposed to the relatively low throughput associated with other blockchain networks.


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