Full Nodes VS Archive

EVM-based chains can have two types of nodes for Mainnet and Testnet:

• Full node - Normal
• Archive

Example image:

Full Node (Normal)

Stores and maintains recent block data, around the most recent 200 blocks. It serves blockchain data upon request and helps support the network by participating in block validation and by verifying all blocks and states. All states can be derived from a Full node.

Archive

Inherits the same functions as a Normal node, and lets you query historical state (e.g. address balance or contract state at a specific block number - not only at the latest).

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Requests made to Archive are more expensive.