🌐 The Global Network Behind Blockchain
Discover how thousands of computers work together without a central authority
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A blockchain isn't stored in one place - it's distributed across thousands of computers called nodes. Let's explore how these nodes work together to maintain the network!
🎯 What is a Node?
A node is any computer that connects to the blockchain network and follows its protocol. Think of it as a network participant that helps keep the blockchain alive and secure.
🎮 Interactive Node Type Explorer
Click each node type to understand its characteristics:
Full Node
Stores complete blockchain history and validates all transactions and blocks
🌍 Why Nodes Matter
More nodes = harder to attack or control. No single point of failure exists when thousands of nodes maintain the network.
Running your own node means you don't trust anyone else. You verify everything yourself using consensus rules.
Even if thousands of nodes go offline, the remaining nodes keep the blockchain running without interruption.
Node operators signal support for protocol upgrades and changes, giving them a voice in network evolution.
📊 Node Distribution
Real-world blockchain networks have different node distributions:
Most decentralized: Nodes spread across 100+ countries
High decentralization: Strong node distribution globally
Lower decentralization: More vulnerable to coordinated attacks
💡 Key Insights
Only by running a full node can you truly verify everything yourself without trusting third parties.
Smartphones can't store terabytes of data. Light nodes make blockchain access practical for everyday devices.
Network security increases with node count and geographic distribution. Centralized node clusters are vulnerabilities.