eth2.0-specs/specs/altair/light-client/full-node.md

# Altair Light Client -- Full Node

**Notice**: This document is a work-in-progress for researchers and implementers.

## Table of contents

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- [Introduction](#introduction)
- [Helper functions](#helper-functions)
  - [`compute_merkle_proof`](#compute_merkle_proof)
  - [`block_to_light_client_header`](#block_to_light_client_header)
- [Deriving light client data](#deriving-light-client-data)
  - [`create_light_client_bootstrap`](#create_light_client_bootstrap)
  - [`create_light_client_update`](#create_light_client_update)
  - [`create_light_client_finality_update`](#create_light_client_finality_update)
  - [`create_light_client_optimistic_update`](#create_light_client_optimistic_update)

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## Introduction

This document provides helper functions to enable full nodes to serve light client data. Full nodes SHOULD implement the described functionality to enable light clients to sync with the network.

## Helper functions

### `compute_merkle_proof`

This function return the Merkle proof of the given SSZ object `object` at generalized index `index`.

```python
def compute_merkle_proof(object: SSZObject,
                         index: GeneralizedIndex) -> Sequence[Bytes32]:
    ...
```

### `block_to_light_client_header`

```python
def block_to_light_client_header(block: SignedBeaconBlock) -> LightClientHeader:
    return LightClientHeader(
        beacon=BeaconBlockHeader(
            slot=block.message.slot,
            proposer_index=block.message.proposer_index,
            parent_root=block.message.parent_root,
            state_root=block.message.state_root,
            body_root=hash_tree_root(block.message.body),
        ),
    )
```

## Deriving light client data

Full nodes are expected to derive light client data from historic blocks and states and provide it to other clients.

### `create_light_client_bootstrap`

To form a `LightClientBootstrap`, the following objects are needed:
- `state`: the post state of any post-Altair block
- `block`: the corresponding block

```python
def create_light_client_bootstrap(state: BeaconState,
                                  block: SignedBeaconBlock) -> LightClientBootstrap:
    assert compute_epoch_at_slot(state.slot) >= ALTAIR_FORK_EPOCH

    assert state.slot == state.latest_block_header.slot
    header = state.latest_block_header.copy()
    header.state_root = hash_tree_root(state)
    assert hash_tree_root(header) == hash_tree_root(block.message)

    return LightClientBootstrap(
        header=block_to_light_client_header(block),
        current_sync_committee=state.current_sync_committee,
        current_sync_committee_branch=compute_merkle_proof(state, CURRENT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX),
    )
```

Full nodes SHOULD provide `LightClientBootstrap` for all finalized epoch boundary blocks in the epoch range `[max(ALTAIR_FORK_EPOCH, current_epoch - MIN_EPOCHS_FOR_BLOCK_REQUESTS), current_epoch]` where `current_epoch` is defined by the current wall-clock time. Full nodes MAY also provide `LightClientBootstrap` for other blocks.

Blocks are considered to be epoch boundary blocks if their block root can occur as part of a valid `Checkpoint`, i.e., if their slot is the initial slot of an epoch, or if all following slots through the initial slot of the next epoch are empty (no block proposed / orphaned).

`LightClientBootstrap` is computed from the block's immediate post state (without applying empty slots).

### `create_light_client_update`

To form a `LightClientUpdate`, the following historical states and blocks are needed:
- `state`: the post state of any block with a post-Altair parent block
- `block`: the corresponding block
- `attested_state`: the post state of `attested_block`
- `attested_block`: the block referred to by `block.parent_root`
- `finalized_block`: the block referred to by `attested_state.finalized_checkpoint.root`, if locally available (may be unavailable, e.g., when using checkpoint sync, or if it was pruned locally)

```python
def create_light_client_update(state: BeaconState,
                               block: SignedBeaconBlock,
                               attested_state: BeaconState,
                               attested_block: SignedBeaconBlock,
                               finalized_block: Optional[SignedBeaconBlock]) -> LightClientUpdate:
    assert compute_epoch_at_slot(attested_state.slot) >= ALTAIR_FORK_EPOCH
    assert sum(block.message.body.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_bits) >= MIN_SYNC_COMMITTEE_PARTICIPANTS

    assert state.slot == state.latest_block_header.slot
    header = state.latest_block_header.copy()
    header.state_root = hash_tree_root(state)
    assert hash_tree_root(header) == hash_tree_root(block.message)
    update_signature_period = compute_sync_committee_period_at_slot(block.message.slot)

    assert attested_state.slot == attested_state.latest_block_header.slot
    attested_header = attested_state.latest_block_header.copy()
    attested_header.state_root = hash_tree_root(attested_state)
    assert hash_tree_root(attested_header) == hash_tree_root(attested_block.message) == block.message.parent_root
    update_attested_period = compute_sync_committee_period_at_slot(attested_block.message.slot)

    update = LightClientUpdate()

    update.attested_header = block_to_light_client_header(attested_block)

    # `next_sync_committee` is only useful if the message is signed by the current sync committee
    if update_attested_period == update_signature_period:
        update.next_sync_committee = attested_state.next_sync_committee
        update.next_sync_committee_branch = compute_merkle_proof(attested_state, NEXT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX)

    # Indicate finality whenever possible
    if finalized_block is not None:
        if finalized_block.message.slot != GENESIS_SLOT:
            update.finalized_header = block_to_light_client_header(finalized_block)
            assert hash_tree_root(update.finalized_header.beacon) == attested_state.finalized_checkpoint.root
        else:
            assert attested_state.finalized_checkpoint.root == Bytes32()
        update.finality_branch = compute_merkle_proof(attested_state, FINALIZED_ROOT_INDEX)

    update.sync_aggregate = block.message.body.sync_aggregate
    update.signature_slot = block.message.slot

    return update
```

Full nodes SHOULD provide the best derivable `LightClientUpdate` (according to `is_better_update`) for each sync committee period covering any epochs in range `[max(ALTAIR_FORK_EPOCH, current_epoch - MIN_EPOCHS_FOR_BLOCK_REQUESTS), current_epoch]` where `current_epoch` is defined by the current wall-clock time. Full nodes MAY also provide `LightClientUpdate` for other sync committee periods.

- `LightClientUpdate` are assigned to sync committee periods based on their `attested_header.beacon.slot`
- `LightClientUpdate` are only considered if `compute_sync_committee_period_at_slot(update.attested_header.beacon.slot) == compute_sync_committee_period_at_slot(update.signature_slot)`
- Only `LightClientUpdate` with `next_sync_committee` as selected by fork choice are provided, regardless of ranking by `is_better_update`. To uniquely identify a non-finalized sync committee fork, all of `period`, `current_sync_committee` and `next_sync_committee` need to be incorporated, as sync committees may reappear over time.

### `create_light_client_finality_update`

```python
def create_light_client_finality_update(update: LightClientUpdate) -> LightClientFinalityUpdate:
    return LightClientFinalityUpdate(
        attested_header=update.attested_header,
        finalized_header=update.finalized_header,
        finality_branch=update.finality_branch,
        sync_aggregate=update.sync_aggregate,
        signature_slot=update.signature_slot,
    )
```

Full nodes SHOULD provide the `LightClientFinalityUpdate` with the highest `attested_header.beacon.slot` (if multiple, highest `signature_slot`) as selected by fork choice, and SHOULD support a push mechanism to deliver new `LightClientFinalityUpdate` whenever `finalized_header` changes.

### `create_light_client_optimistic_update`

```python
def create_light_client_optimistic_update(update: LightClientUpdate) -> LightClientOptimisticUpdate:
    return LightClientOptimisticUpdate(
        attested_header=update.attested_header,
        sync_aggregate=update.sync_aggregate,
        signature_slot=update.signature_slot,
    )
```

Full nodes SHOULD provide the `LightClientOptimisticUpdate` with the highest `attested_header.beacon.slot` (if multiple, highest `signature_slot`) as selected by fork choice, and SHOULD support a push mechanism to deliver new `LightClientOptimisticUpdate` whenever `attested_header` changes.