Node
A device that participates in a blockchain network, with roles varying from transaction validation to block creation.
A node is any device that participates in a blockchain network. Nodes maintain the blockchain's functionality and uphold its decentralized nature. They can be personal computers, servers, or even dedicated devices. Each node helps distribute the blockchain's data across the network, contributing to censorship resistance and decentralization.
A full node is a node that holds a complete copy of the blockchain and validates all transactions and blocks against the network's consensus rules. Full nodes contribute to the security and robustness of the network. They enforce the rules of the blockchain, preventing miners from changing the protocol or creating invalid blocks. Bitcoin Cash's larger block size typically requires more storage capacity for full nodes compared to Bitcoin, but enables more on-chain transactions.
A mining node, which is always a full node, additionally participates in the creation of new blocks. When a mining node solves a cryptographic puzzle (proof-of-work), it broadcasts the solution (the new block) to the network. Mining nodes are crucial for transaction processing and network security. In Bitcoin Cash, mining difficulty adjusts more frequently than Bitcoin, helping to maintain consistent block times even with fluctuating hashpower.
A light node, or lightweight node, does not hold a complete copy of the blockchain. Instead, it downloads only the necessary data, making it suitable for devices with limited resources. However, light nodes rely more on other nodes for information. Light nodes use a technique called Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) to verify transactions without downloading the entire blockchain, which is particularly useful in mobile wallets.
Related terms
6 linkedExplore connected entries beyond the alphabetical index.
Full Node
→A full node independently validates blocks and transactions, enforcing a blockchain's consensus rules without trusting a third party.
Miner
→A miner is a participant who provides computational work to find blocks and secure proof-of-work blockchains.
Mempool
→A temporary storage space in a node for pending transactions that have not yet been included in a confirmed block.
Block
→A batch of valid transactions added to a blockchain, linked to the previous block by a cryptographic hash.
Wallet
→Software or hardware that manages crypto keys, creates addresses, signs transactions, and shows blockchain activity.
Proof of Work (PoW)
→A consensus algorithm where computing power is used to solve complex problems, verify transactions, and create new blocks.
All terms and definitions may update as the Cryptionary improves.
