A node is a point of intersection/connection within a data communication network. In an environment where all devices are accessible through the network, these devices are all considered nodes. The individual definition of each node depends on the type of network. Nodes create, receive and communicate information and store it or relay it to other nodes. For example, a scanner in a computer network creates images and sends them to a computer, while a router organizes data received from the internet and distributes it to the individual devices within the network.
In peer-to-peer 
or other types of distributed networks, nodes are comprised of the servers, clients and/or peers. Peers themselves can act both as servers and clients, while nodes that route data for other devices within the network are defined as “supernodes.”