Nodes and their types

After you have installed the wallet on your computer, it starts synchronizing with the entire blockchain network. A node is a computer that is connected to a blockchain network. The blockchain system is built on the P2P (peer-to-peer) protocol, where all network nodes are equal. Depending on the type of node, it can be a full node, mining node, masternode, lightweight SPV node. They all use the same consensus protocol to stay compatible with each other.

The type of node determines whether it can store only a part of or all of the blockchain data. A full node is a computer that is connected to the network 24/7 and is fully synchronized with it. Full nodes also store a separate copy of the blockchain on the hard disk, which is regularly updated using special software. These nodes guarantee the viability of the cryptocurrency network by participating in the processing of transactions and relaying data in the ecosystem.

Functions of nodes

It stores all blockchain data: information about the network checks whether new transactions comply with all the rules, confirms or rejects them when trying to include a transaction in a new miner block. Full nodes work for free. Nodes are the backbone of every blockchain. Not a single pairing network can do without full nodes. Since it is they who keep all full copies of the ledger and, when synchronized with each other, update all the data.

Nodes and blockchain

The blockchain as a whole can be implemented by a single node, but since it will be stored on a single device, it will be extremely vulnerable to situations such as power outages, hacker attacks, or system failures. The more full nodes are running on the blockchain, the better their ability to recover in such situations. Even if the majority of the nodes are lost, one node is able to keep the whole chain of blocks in working order. Even if all the nodes are disabled, only one node with the complete history of the blockchain is needed to go online and return all the data.

However, while nodes are not a means of obtaining cryptocurrency, are an obligatory part of the system.  By connecting to the network, the user gains access to the nodes through which transactions take place. Answering the question of what information circulates through the nodes, we can say that it is a protocol that enables the exchange of information and the transfer of blocks.