diff --git a/docs.json b/docs.json
index d18c8123d..d0bf4feae 100644
--- a/docs.json
+++ b/docs.json
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
   "navigation": {
     "pages": [
       "start-here",
+      "what-is-a-node",
       "get-support",
       "from-ethereum",
       "more-tutorials",
diff --git a/resources/images/nodes/node-flow.svg b/resources/images/nodes/node-flow.svg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b54d7eb66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/images/nodes/node-flow.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+<svg width="960" height="220" viewBox="0 0 960 220" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="color:#1E2337">
+  <defs>
+    <marker
+      id="arrow"
+      markerWidth="10"
+      markerHeight="8"
+      refX="9"
+      refY="4"
+      orient="auto"
+      markerUnits="strokeWidth"
+    >
+      <path d="M0,0 L10,4 L0,8 Z" fill="currentColor" />
+    </marker>
+  </defs>
+
+  <rect x="20" y="60" width="180" height="100" rx="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+  <rect x="240" y="60" width="220" height="100" rx="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+  <rect x="500" y="60" width="180" height="100" rx="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+  <rect x="720" y="60" width="200" height="100" rx="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" />
+
+  <line x1="200" y1="110" x2="240" y2="110" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" marker-end="url(#arrow)" />
+  <line x1="460" y1="110" x2="500" y2="110" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" marker-end="url(#arrow)" />
+  <line x1="680" y1="110" x2="720" y2="110" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" marker-end="url(#arrow)" />
+
+  <text x="110" y="100" text-anchor="middle" font-size="14" font-family="Inter, Arial, sans-serif" fill="currentColor">
+    <tspan x="110" dy="0">User / Wallet</tspan>
+    <tspan x="110" dy="18">DApp</tspan>
+  </text>
+
+  <text x="350" y="95" text-anchor="middle" font-size="14" font-family="Inter, Arial, sans-serif" fill="currentColor">
+    <tspan x="350" dy="0">API provider</tspan>
+    <tspan x="350" dy="18">Liteserver (gateway)</tspan>
+  </text>
+
+  <text x="590" y="95" text-anchor="middle" font-size="14" font-family="Inter, Arial, sans-serif" fill="currentColor">
+    <tspan x="590" dy="0">TON nodes</tspan>
+    <tspan x="590" dy="18">(full nodes)</tspan>
+  </text>
+
+  <text x="820" y="95" text-anchor="middle" font-size="14" font-family="Inter, Arial, sans-serif" fill="currentColor">
+    <tspan x="820" dy="0">Validators</tspan>
+    <tspan x="820" dy="18">(subset)</tspan>
+  </text>
+</svg>
diff --git a/what-is-a-node.mdx b/what-is-a-node.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f993a1f61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/what-is-a-node.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+---
+title: "What is a node?"
+description: "Overview of TON nodes, validator roles, and how apps connect to the network."
+---
+
+import { Image } from "/snippets/image.jsx";
+
+A node is a server running TON blockchain software. It stores the chain state, verifies blocks and transactions, and propagates new data to other nodes and clients.
+
+This matters when deciding whether to rely on a public API or run infrastructure, and when tracing how a wallet action becomes an on-chain transaction.
+
+## What a node does
+
+A _full node_ keeps the latest blockchain state and relays blocks and messages across the peer-to-peer network. A _validator_ is a full node that participates in consensus and produces blocks. Many full nodes also expose a _liteserver_ endpoint so wallets and apps can query data or submit messages without running a full node themselves.
+
+TON also has _lite clients_. They do not store chain state locally. Instead, they request the data they need from liteserver-enabled full nodes.
+
+## Node types and roles
+
+- **Full node** — stores the latest state and propagates blocks and messages. See [Node roles and modes](/ecosystem/node/overview).
+- **Archive node** — a full node that keeps the entire history for analytics and explorers. See [Node roles and modes](/ecosystem/node/overview).
+- **Validator node** — produces blocks and participates in consensus. See [Running a validator](/ecosystem/node/run-validator).
+- **Liteserver** — a mode that exposes a gateway for lite clients and APIs. See [Interacting with TON nodes](/ecosystem/node/overview#interacting-with-ton-nodes).
+
+## Who runs nodes
+
+- **Validators** — stake Toncoin, participate in consensus, and produce blocks.
+- **Infrastructure providers** — run full nodes and liteservers to back APIs.
+- **Explorers and indexers** — run archive nodes to serve historical data.
+- **Community operators** — add connectivity and redundancy to the network.
+
+## How apps reach the network
+
+Wallets and dApps act as lite clients: they do not keep chain state locally and instead connect to an [API provider](/ecosystem/api/overview) or a liteserver gateway. The gateway forwards requests to full nodes. Validators are the subset of nodes that finalize new blocks, and the results propagate back through the network.
+
+<Image
+  src="/resources/images/nodes/node-flow.svg"
+  alt="Flow from a user wallet or dApp through an API or liteserver gateway to TON full nodes and validators."
+/>
+
+## Run your own node (optional)
+
+Use public APIs for prototypes and light workloads. Full nodes typically back apps that require stricter uptime targets or direct access to the network.
+
+- [Set up a node with MyTonCtrl](/ecosystem/node/setup-mytonctrl)
+- [Set up a local network with MyLocalTon](/ecosystem/node/setup-mylocalton)
+
+## See also
+
+- [Node roles and modes](/ecosystem/node/overview)
+- [Running a validator](/ecosystem/node/run-validator)
+- [Liteserver mode](/ecosystem/node/overview#interacting-with-ton-nodes)