Blockchain network

A peer to peer networks that consists of a bunch of computers participating in a blockchain network. So there is no central controlling node or something.

A network can be public (anyone can participate like in the Ethereum blockchain), private or hybrid.

Types of nodes:

• Miner; Creating new blocks
• Full node; Checking block validity using all transactions and blocks.
• Lightweight node; Checking chain integrity using only the block headers.

In a private network you don't need mining, you can just appoint one or more nodes that can create new blocks.