Saltzer

Saltzer is a surname that appears in academic and historical contexts, most notably in computer science. The best-known bearer is Jerome H. Saltzer, an American computer scientist who conducted influential research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His work spanned computer systems, networking, and distributed computing, and he is associated with foundational ideas in early networking and system design.

Saltzer is particularly recognized for co-authoring the 1984 paper End-to-End Arguments in System Design, with David P. Reed and D. Clark. The paper articulates the End-to-End principle, arguing that many important functions—such as reliability, integrity, and security—are more effectively implemented at the endpoints of a communication system rather than within the core network. This insight encourages simpler, more flexible network infrastructure and places greater responsibility for correct behavior on the applications and end hosts.

The End-to-End argument has had a lasting impact on the architecture of computer networks and the development of Internet protocols. It influenced decisions about where to place functions like error handling, encryption, and reliability, and it remains a central reference in discussions of systems design and network protocol layering.

Beyond this influential publication, Saltzer’s work contributed to the broader field of distributed systems and operating systems, and he is recognized for helping shape early thinking about how networked computing should be organized. The Saltzer surname is thus closely associated with a lineage of work in computer science that emphasizes principled, principles-based design in complex systems.