Term of the Moment
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Definition: node
(1) For the JavaScript platform, see Node.js.
(2) Node typically refers to a single unit among any combination of computers, servers, switches and routers in a network. Nodes can be servers in a datacenter and modules in a server. A node refers to any entity that communicates with cooperating objects, which may be identical or different. See host, hub, switch and router.
(3) In a blockchain, every computer that supports the running of the chain is a node. Miners and validators are also nodes. See blockchain and crypto glossary.
(4) In database management, a node is an item of data that can be accessed by two or more routes. See DBMS.
(5) In the Document Object Model (DOM), which exposes HTML and XML content to an application or script, every element, every attribute of that element, and each piece of textual content for every attribute is considered a node. See DOM.
(6) In computer graphics, a node is an endpoint of a graphical element. See graphics.
(7) In multiprocessing systems, a node can be a single processor or system. In MPP (massively parallel processing), a node is one processor. In SMP (symmetric multiprocessing), a node is one computer system with two or more processors and shared memory. See SMP and MPP.
The First Four Nodes of the Internet
(2) Node typically refers to a single unit among any combination of computers, servers, switches and routers in a network. Nodes can be servers in a datacenter and modules in a server. A node refers to any entity that communicates with cooperating objects, which may be identical or different. See host, hub, switch and router.
(3) In a blockchain, every computer that supports the running of the chain is a node. Miners and validators are also nodes. See blockchain and crypto glossary.
(4) In database management, a node is an item of data that can be accessed by two or more routes. See DBMS.
(5) In the Document Object Model (DOM), which exposes HTML and XML content to an application or script, every element, every attribute of that element, and each piece of textual content for every attribute is considered a node. See DOM.
(6) In computer graphics, a node is an endpoint of a graphical element. See graphics.
(7) In multiprocessing systems, a node can be a single processor or system. In MPP (massively parallel processing), a node is one processor. In SMP (symmetric multiprocessing), a node is one computer system with two or more processors and shared memory. See SMP and MPP.
Scrawled on this paper in 1969 were the first four nodes of the ARPANET network, which later became the Internet. Annotations added for this example. (Original image courtesy of The Computer History Museum.)