> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents.md).

# Table of Contents

- [Three Layers](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers.md): The Cardano architecture features three layers:
- [Consensus Layer](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers/consensus-layer.md)
- [Proof of Stake (PoS)](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers/consensus-layer/proof-of-stake-pos.md)
- [Pros and Cons of PoS](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers/consensus-layer/pros-and-cons-of-pos.md)
- [Ledger Layer](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers/ledger-layer.md)
- [Network Layer](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/three-layers/network-layer.md)
- [Cryptography](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/cryptography.md)
- [Peer-to-peer Communication Between Nodes](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/peer-to-peer-communication-between-nodes.md)
- [Interoperability](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/interoperability.md)
- [Hard Fork Combinator](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/hard-fork-combinator.md)
- [Stake pools](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/stake-pools.md)
- [Financial Aspects](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/financial-aspects.md)
- [The ada token: definition and functionality](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/financial-aspects/the-ada-token-definition-and-functionality.md)
- [Staking](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/financial-aspects/staking.md)
- [RealFi](https://cardano-wiki.gitbook.io/cardano/how-does-cardano-work/table-of-contents/financial-aspects/realfi.md)