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In telecommunications, a node is a connection point, redistribution point, or communication endpoint within a network. Nodes can be used to:1

  • Connect multiple communication devices or lines.1
  • Re-route or terminate data signals.1
  • Serve as a point where a wave has zero amplitude, or where subsidiary parts of a system originate.2

Modern telecommunications networks use nodes to connect users to switches, forming a linked network. Data travels between these nodes via communications channels, which can be wires, fiber-optic cables, or radio waves. Networks can be switched, where data moves through a series of nodes, or broadcast, where transmissions are received by all other nodes.1

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. node
  2. telecommunications network

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