In Drupal, a node is a fundamental content entity representing a single piece of content on a website. It is the most commonly used entity type and serves as the primary means of storing and managing content in Drupal. Understanding nodes is crucial for creating and managing content in Drupal. Here are the key aspects of nodes:

1. Content Representation:
– Nodes represent individual pieces of content such as articles, blog posts, pages, news items, or any other content type defined in Drupal.
– Each node is assigned a unique ID and contains various fields and properties to store and organise content.

2. Node Structure:
– Nodes have a predefined structure that includes core properties like the node ID, title, creation date, author, and revision information.
– Additional fields can be added to nodes to capture and store specific content attributes.
– Fields can include text, images, dates, taxonomy references, entity references, and more.

3. Content Types:
– Content types define the structure and behavior of nodes.
– Drupal core provides several predefined content types such as Article and Basic page.
– Site administrators can create custom content types tailored to specific content needs by defining fields, settings, and display options.

4. Node Display:
– Nodes can be displayed using various view modes such as Full, Teaser, or RSS.
– Each view mode controls how the node’s fields and content are presented to users.
– Administrators can customise the display of nodes by configuring the layout, field formatting, and adding custom templates.

5. Node Administration:
– Nodes can be created, edited, and managed through the Drupal administrative interface.
– Administrators and content editors can access the node editing form to input or modify content, select taxonomy terms, add media, and configure other relevant options.
– Permissions control who can create, edit, or delete nodes, allowing for granular content management.

6. Node Publishing:
– Nodes can be published or unpublished to control their visibility on the website.
– Unpublished nodes remain in draft mode and are only visible to authorised users, while published nodes are publicly accessible.
– Publishing status can be changed at any time, allowing content editors to control when and how content is displayed.

7. Node Operations:
– Drupal provides CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) for nodes.
– Nodes can be created programmatically using Drupal’s Entity API, edited via the administrative interface, loaded for display or modification, and deleted when no longer needed.
– Modules and developers can implement hooks and events to perform custom actions before or after node operations.

Nodes are the foundation of content management in Drupal. They allow site administrators and content editors to create, organise, and present content in a structured manner. By leveraging nodes and their associated fields and settings, developers can build dynamic and feature-rich websites that deliver engaging and customisable content experiences.