---
title: Introduction
slug: introduction
---

> 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

Teku is an open source Ethereum consensus client (previously called an
[Ethereum 2.0](https://blog.ethereum.org/2022/01/24/the-great-eth2-renaming/)
client) written in Java.
Teku contains a full beacon node implementation and a validator client for
participating in [proof of stake consensus](concepts/proof-of-stake.md).

## What can you do with Teku?

Teku supports the following features:

- Running the beacon node synchronization and consensus.
- Proposing and attesting to blocks.
- Enterprise-focused metrics using Prometheus.
- A REST API for managing consensus layer node operations.
- External key management for managing validator signing keys.

## New to Teku?

Get started by running Teku with Docker or installing Teku. You can:

- [Run Teku from a Docker image.](get-started/install/run-docker-image.md)
- [Install the binary distribution.](get-started/install/install-binaries.md)
- [Build from source.](get-started/install/build-from-source.md)