Nodes are an important component for the functioning of a blockchain, they are the components that ensure the security, stability and functioning of the transactions that occur there. But to respect blockchain's decentralization principles, it is critical that these nodes are not owned by too few individuals or entities.

Therefore, by definition, the greater the number of nodes in the same network, the more secure it is. It is important that a node is accessible to many individuals, as they are the ones who will secure the network. First and foremost, a blockchain node is a piece of hardware created and managed by the users themselves.

How Nodes Work in Blockchain

The computer hardware of the user who has created a node will be interconnected with other nodes of the blockchain. In most cases, operating a node does not require much technical knowledge. In general, it is possible to create a node on a virtual dedicated server (VPS) or on a personal computer.

When we talk about “transactions” verified by nodes, we mean to use this term in the broadest sense. Indeed, some nodes are responsible for responding to requests sent by all actors in the blockchain. For example, this could be via the user's cryptocurrency wallet, decentralized applications (dApps) or protocols. This is called a "full node".

As active members of the distributed ledger technology of a particular blockchain, all nodes share the transaction history of that blockchain. They are indeed constantly informed about the addition of new blocks.

However, there are some exceptions, for example in a mining pool where miners work together. In this case, only the administrator of the pool will be required to operate a full node. This is a possible scenario on the Bitcoin (BTC) network for example.

Different Types of Nodes

Please note that most blockchains work by combining the capabilities of several types of nodes. Some of the examples below are studied through the prism of a particular blockchain, but this does not mean that a particular type of node is exclusive to the cited blockchain.

1. Full Node

This is one of the most common types of anode and is usually referred to by the crypto community simply as a “node” so it is a misnomer. According to Satoshi Nakamoto Full Node is a program that fully validates transactions and blocks. Almost all Full Nodes also support the network by accepting transactions and blocks from other Full Nodes.

2. Reduced nodes (pruned nodes)

Pruned mode is an anode that has the same properties as a full anode, except that the node has no blockchain history. Therefore, it is indeed lighter than the previous type. Thus, a reduced node only stores the important components of a node so that it can carry out various verification processes in the blockchain.

3. Light node

Light nodes are an atrophied version of full nodes that only store a small portion of the blockchain history, making them lighter than minified nodes. For example, it is possible (depending on the blockchain) to run a light node on a smartphone.

4. Node Archie

Archive nodes, or archive nodes, have the same capabilities as full nodes. However, its use would be preferable in situations where it is necessary to go back in time in blockchain history. This type of node is for example used to view data beyond the 128th block starting from the last block on the Ethereum blockchain.

5. Mining node

Mining nodes are nodes that are used to solve the very complex equations inherent in creating new blocks. They are interconnected and must be separated from conventional nodes.

6. Masternode

Masternodes, or literally masternodes, are a growing alternative to Proof of Stake (PoS) which is currently widely used in the crypto ecosystem. This is a concept pioneered by the Dash blockchain in 2014.

Conclusion

Overall, nodes in a blockchain are critical components that ensure the security, stability, and functionality of transactions in the network. The more nodes in the same network, the more secure the blockchain. Each node has the same transaction history of the blockchain and is constantly notified of the addition of new blocks.