# Pruning 'Pruning' allows node operators to save 2/3 of storage space while keeping the full transaction history. Pruning works by removing 7/8 of unnecessary ring signature data. The 1/8 remaining data will be available to the other nodes and will be used to sync with the network. Other pruned nodes will have a random 1/8 of the data, which they will also make available to the network. There are no privacy or security downsides when using a pruned node. There are three ways to prune: * *Synchronize a pruned node from scratch:* You will download and sync only 1/3 of the full blockchain. * *Prune an existing node:* The already existing blockchain will be pruned, but this will not result in a smaller blockchain. Instead, it will mark parts of the file as free, so that future data will use that free space, causing the file to not grow until free space grows scarce. * *Create a new pruned blockchain from a full one:* A full blockchain that you already have will be used to create a new, pruned blockchain. Pruned nodes are very useful and preferable to @remote-nodes, but if possible, users should run a full node and opt for pruning only in case if necessary. The 'database pruning' feature [was added](https://github.com/haven-project/haven/pull/4843) on January 2019. See the [blog post](https://app.gitbook.com/s/-MIUkN4w3pz_N3EraYsq/overview/%7B%7B%20site.baseurl%20%7D%7D/2019/02/01/pruning.html) for more information. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://wiki.havenprotocol.org/overview/pruning.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.