Full Node, Light Node & Archive Node: What's the Difference?

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, understanding its core infrastructure becomes essential for developers, enthusiasts, and enterprises alike. At the heart of every blockchain network are nodes—computers that participate in maintaining the network’s integrity and functionality. However, not all nodes are the same. In particular, full nodes, light nodes, and archive nodes each play distinct roles. Let’s explore what sets them apart.

Full Node

A full node stores the entire history of the blockchain and participates in the validation and propagation of transactions and blocks. It independently verifies every transaction and block according to the network’s consensus rules. By doing so, full nodes uphold decentralization and security.

For example, in Bitcoin or Ethereum, a full node downloads and stores the entire ledger, including every transaction ever processed. This allows the node to verify data without relying on third parties. Full nodes are crucial for network consensus and are often operated by exchanges, developers, or individuals with a focus on privacy.

Pros:

• High trust and security
• Supports decentralization
• Independent verification

Cons:

• Requires significant storage (hundreds of gigabytes or more)
• Higher bandwidth and resource consumption

Light Node (or Lightweight Node)

A light node (or SPV node, for Simplified Payment Verification) doesn’t download the entire blockchain. Instead, it stores only the block headers—summaries of the blocks—which significantly reduces the storage and computational load.

Light nodes rely on full nodes to fetch detailed data and validate transactions. They’re ideal for mobile wallets or low-resource devices that need access to blockchain networks without the burden of full validation.

Pros:

• Low resource requirements
• Fast synchronization
• Ideal for end users

Cons:

• Depends on full nodes for data
• Less secure and trust-minimized

Light nodes are particularly common in consumer applications, where efficiency and speed are more important than full control or privacy.

Archive Node

An archive node is similar to a full node but goes a step further. While a full node stores the current state and recent data needed for validation, an archive node retains everything—including all historical states and intermediate steps.

This makes archive nodes essential for blockchain explorers, analytics platforms, and developers who need in-depth access to historical data. For instance, querying an account’s balance at any point in time is only possible with an archive node.

Pros:

• Full historical data
• Ideal for research, forensics, and dApp development

Cons:

• Extremely high storage needs (several terabytes)
• Requires powerful hardware

Choosing the Right Node

Selecting the appropriate node type depends on your goals:

• Running a wallet? A light node is sufficient.
• Supporting the network or building apps? A full node is more suitable.
• Doing historical analysis or operating a blockchain explorer? You’ll need an archive node.

Understanding these roles is crucial when setting up infrastructure, whether for personal use or enterprise-grade deployment.

To dive deeper into the distinctions and operational requirements of each node type, check out this detailed guide on Blockchain nodes types.

Summing It All Up

Nodes are the foundation that keeps networks secure, transparent, and operational. Whether you choose a full node for complete autonomy, a light node for efficiency, or an archive node for deep historical insight, each serves a unique purpose in the ecosystem. Understanding these differences not only helps you make informed decisions when interacting with blockchain networks but also highlights the diverse ways individuals and organizations contribute to the technology’s growth. As blockchain adoption expands, choosing the right node type will be essential for aligning with your technical needs and long-term goals.