Block Time

Block time describes a temporal property of block production. Depending on context, it may refer to the average interval between blocks or to the timestamp stored in an individual block.

Average block time is an important blockchain parameter because it affects how frequently new confirmations become available and how regularly the chain progresses.

Target versus actual block time

Many networks define a target block interval, but actual intervals vary randomly around that target. In Proof-of-Work systems, block discovery depends on the total computational power and protocol difficulty.

A single block may therefore arrive much earlier or later than expected. Long-term averages provide a more useful view of actual network block production.