In the context of blockchain and distributed networks, nodes are individual computers that participate in the network and share resources such as memory, processing power, and data storage. Node types can be broadly categorized into three main types: full nodes, light nodes, and miner nodes. 1. **Full Nodes**: These nodes store the complete copy of the blockchain and validate all transactions and blocks. They play a crucial role in maintaining network security and integrity by ensuring that each transaction complies with the consensus rules. 2. **Light Nodes**: Also known as SPV or Simplified Payment Verification nodes, these nodes do not store the full blockchain. Instead, they download block headers and fetch information about transactions when needed. This makes them less resource-intensive and suitable for mobile wallets. 3. **Miner Nodes**: These nodes are responsible for creating new blocks by solving cryptographic puzzles. They require significant computational power and are incentivized through block rewards and transaction fees.