Cryptographic database GroveDB now live, enabling secondary index query proofs for DApps

Dash, a renowned payments-focused cryptocurrency project built with ease of use and near-instant transactions in mind, has recently introduced GroveDB. The product marks a leap forward for the whole industry since it’s the world’s first database to support secondary index query proofs. GroveDB is a crucial component of the upcoming Dash Platform, scheduled for release in the last quarter of 2023.

Being the first database to support secondary index query proofs means GroveDB is the first to allow users to perform complex database searches in an intuitive and efficient way while enabling them to verify their search results with cryptographic proofs.

Searches in GroveDB look like searches in traditional databases, just with the added functionality of cryptographic verification. Say a user wants to search through insurance records to find the names of all Brazilian citizens who had influenza in 2020. This search would utilize 3 secondary indexes – one for the country, one for disease, and one for year. The data is returned to the user along with the proof, which consists of instructions on how to calculate the database’s root hash using the requested data. After calculating the hash, it can be compared with the database’s actual root hash, and if they match, the user can be certain the data is authentic. Of course, this entire process is transparently handled under the hood by GroveDB.

Designed as a multilayer, specialized, provable solution, GroveDB will become an essential factor in driving the growth of Dash and its greater decentralization. Developers who deploy their applications on Dash Platform will gain access to security guarantees and query capabilities that can’t be found elsewhere.

Meanwhile, GroveDB acts as a completely standalone, open-source product that can be easily integrated into other dApps for the same purposes. Being written in Rust, the database supports all compile targets (x86, AArch64, and Wasm), and has Node.js bindings as well.

At its core, GroveDB takes on a hierarchical form where root hashes of lower-level trees are stored in higher-level tree nodes; and the root hash of the root tree can be used to prove the state of the entire database. All trees in GroveDB are Merk trees by default, which allows for higher performance compared to most other Merkle stores: higher throughput, more efficient usage of the backing store, and faster proof generation.

GroveDB is built specifically for and tailored to secondary index queries that are more complex than single-key retrievals. Users can create unique and compound indexes on any field and access them in an intuitive way, without the need to iterate over every single record in the database, as they would without secondary indexes. Next to that, users can stay confident that the data they receive hasn’t been tampered with, since GroveDB makes it possible to verify the authenticity of all queries with the help of cryptographic proofs.

In this context, the database will offer an advantageous solution to dApps who are currently using unverifiable services for indexing like The Graph. 

“The users of such services are forced to rely solely on reputation systems and economic incentives – they’re provided no guarantee of data authenticity. GroveDB introduces proofs for complex queries, giving users both smooth data indexing and verifiability,” said Paul DeLucia, R&D at Dash Core Group.

“The need for secondary index query proofs is evident in the blockchain sector where trustlessness is vital. We’re sure that GroveDB’s technical innovation will make it an attractive tool for dApp developers,” DeLucia added.

Dash has also revealed some other features that distinguish GroveDB from its competitors. Among them are ACID compliance, immutable and mutable storage, as well as inclusion and absence proofs. On top of that, GroveDB will be free to use, providing much greater functionality compared to similar databases.

Feel free to check GroveDB’s comprehensive documentation here.

About Dash

Dash is a payments-focused cryptocurrency that allows millions of individuals across the globe to carry out instant and secure transactions, with near-zero fees. It is accepted at almost 200,000 merchants globally, accessible via 3,300+ ATMs and 100+ exchanges worldwide.

Dash has pioneered groundbreaking features including a two-tier network of incentivized nodes and decentralized project governance, instantly settled payments, and a fully secure blockchain. The Dash Network’s development is supported by Dash Core Group, the largest organization funded by the Dash Treasury. For more information, visit https://www.dash.org/.