---
title: Architecture
description: Learn about the Teku high-level architecture.
sidebar_position: 1
---

> For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [/llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any documentation URL to get the markdown source.


# Teku architecture

The following diagram outlines the Teku high-level architecture.

![Architecture](/img/architecture.png)

Teku contains both a beacon node and validator client implementation.
The beacon node is the primary link to the Beacon Chain.
The validator client performs [validator duties](proof-of-stake.md).

You can [run the beacon node only](../get-started/start-teku.md#start-the-beacon-node), or [run the beacon node and validator client](../get-started/start-teku.md#start-the-clients-in-a-single-process).

Read more about the [Ethereum consensus client architecture](https://ethereum.org/en/developers/docs/nodes-and-clients/). For more information about the Teku architecture, contact us on [Teku Discord channel](https://discord.gg/teku).