Node (networking)

In telecommunications networks, a node (Latin: nodus, ‘knot’) is either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint.

Examples are computers, a DSL modem with Ethernet interface and wireless access point.

Equipment, such as an Ethernet hub or modem with serial interface, that operates only below the data link layer does not require a network address.

In cable television systems (CATV), this term has assumed a broader context and is generally associated with a fiber optic node.

This can be defined as those homes or businesses within a specific geographic area that are served from a common fiber optic receiver.