One thing I learned about: Alternatives to using blockchain nodes
Blockchains do not always need to use full nodes for every task in the network.
They can use alternatives suited to their goals, circumstances, and constraints.
Examples:
- Light clients: performs trust-minimized verification by requesting proofs from full nodes.
- Data availability layers: store and serve block data apart from execution nodes.
- Layer2 and sidechains: process data off-chain and rely on proofs or state roots.
- Blockchain indexers: store data and allow queries nodes do not support.
- Remote or federated APIs: third-party on-chain data providers
🔽🛠️Resources🔽
- What is Data Availability in Blockchain? (2024) via @NervosNetwork: https://www.nervos.org/knowledge-base/what_is_data_%20availability_in_blockchain_(explainCKBot)
- Blockchain Data Solutions: Should You Use RPC or Indexers? by @bitquery_io: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/blockchain-data-solutions-should-you-use-rpc-indexers-bitquery-vdxnf
- What Is the Data Availability Layer? (2022) by @AlchemyPlatform: https://www.alchemy.com/overviews/data-availability-layer