monero-site/_i18n/ar/resources/moneropedia/node.md

---
summary: 'A device on the Internet running the Monero software, with a full copy of the Monero blockchain. It can be local or remote'
terms: ["node", "nodes", "full-node", "full-nodes"]
---

{% include disclaimer.html translated="no" translationOutdated="no" %}

### The Basics

A device on the Internet running the Monero software, with a full copy of
the Monero blockchain, actively assisting the Monero network. A node that is
not running on your local machine is called @remote-node. Remote nodes can
be private, if they are for personal use only, or open, if they are
accessible by other people.

### More Information

Nodes participate in the Monero network and secure @transactions by
enforcing the rules of the network. Nodes download the entire @blockchain to
know what transactions have taken place. Nodes assist the network by
relaying transactions to other nodes on the network. Nodes may also choose
to contribute to the Monero network by participating in crafting @blocks
(this is called @mining).

Mining is the process by which nodes create a block from the previously
accepted block, transactions that are waiting to be processed in the
transaction pool, and the @coinbase-transaction. When a node believes it has
crafted a valid block it will transmit the completed block to other nodes on
the network and those nodes signal agreement by working on the next block in
the chain.

The rules that nodes follow are built into the Monero software; When all
nodes agree about the rules to follow this is called @consensus. Consensus
is necessary for a cryptocurrency because it is how the blockchain is built;
If nodes don't agree about which blocks are valid, for example people who
have not updated their Monero software, those nodes that don't agree will no
longer be able to participate in the Monero network.

The Monero Core Team plans for a network upgrade roughly every 6 months. At
that time, if you are running a node it must be updated to the most recent
version of the Monero software or it will no longer be able to participate
in the network.

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##### Other Resources

<sub>1. *Fluffypony gives a great explanation of why mandatory network upgrades are good for Monero.* ([Monero Missives for the Week of 2016-06-20]({{ site.baseurl_root }}/2016/06/20/monero-missive-for-the-week-of-2016-06-20.html))</sub>