What Is A Node?

A node is a point of connection within a “data communication network”. In an environment where all devices are accessible through the network, these devices are all considered nodes. The individual definition of each node depends on the type of network it refers to.

Nodes create, receive and communicate information and store it or relay it to other nodes. The concept of nodes works on several levels, but the big-picture view defines nodes as the major centers through which internet traffic is typically routed.

The idea of nodes was popularized with the adoption of “packet-switching theory” and the concept of “distributed networks”.

In this context, nodes were gateways that could receive, store and send information along different routes through a distributed network. Each node was given an equal standing within the network - meaning that the loss of any one node would not significantly hurt the network.

In peer-to-peer or other types of distributed networks, nodes are comprised of the servers, clients and/or peers. Peers themselves can act both as servers and clients, while nodes that route data for other devices within the network are defined as “supernodes.”

Nodes store all the data of a particular blockchain network, such as Ethereum. They are essential to the health and security of the blockchain. Due to how technically challenging it is to set up a node for the average person, projects like Strongblock, THOR offer “nodes as a service” and incentivize users to create nodes through their protocol.

These projects incentivize users to create nodes through their automated services by paying node creators daily revenue in the form of tokens.

The launch of Galaxy Node as a Service platform is the product of substantial planning, effort, and our years of experience as node operators and ecosystem developers. We’re proud to make it available to the world and we can’t wait to see what you’re going to build with us.