Foundations · 05 / 86
Nodes, clients, and forks
A node is a computer keeping the history. A client is the software it runs. A fork is a disagreement about the rules.
Your view of the chain
If you only look through an exchange or a website, you are trusting their view. A node you run is you checking the history yourself. Most people will not run one. Knowing that you are not is already useful.
Forks
A soft change can stay compatible. A hard fork splits the rules. Coins can exist on both sides for a moment. The name often stays with whichever crowd, companies, and exchanges follow.
A fork is not free money. Claiming coins on a copy of the chain can expose your keys if you sign the wrong thing.
Check yourself
Is the exchange's balance the same as checking the chain yourself?
No. It is their report of your account.
After this you can tell a node from a website, and treat a fork as a rule change, not a gift.