Nibble
📖 Definition:
A nibble is a 4-bit unit of data, representing half a byte or, equivalently, one hexadecimal digit. In the context of the MPT, nibbles are instrumental in the efficient encoding of keys, ensuring a more refined and organized trie structure.
📌 Key Characteristics:
Compact Representation: Nibbles offer a middle ground between bits and bytes, allowing for a compact yet expressive way to depict data, particularly in scenarios like the MPT where precision in key encoding matters.
Hexadecimal Mapping: Each nibble can represent a single hexadecimal digit, ranging from 0-F. This mapping makes it intuitive to understand and visualize, especially when debugging or analyzing trie structures.
Key Conversion for Traversal: In MPT operations, keys typically begin as byte arrays (
[]byte). However, for a more precise and granular traversal, these keys are converted into an array of nibbles ([]nibble). This conversion facilitates the trie's iterative process, enabling a step-by-step movement through the structure using each individual nibble.
Last updated