A node is like a dot in a big game of connect-the-dots. Just like how you draw lines to connect dots and make a picture, in computers or networks, nodes are the spots where things connect. They can be like tiny houses where messages stop to get directions on where to go next.

Imagine a spider web. Each place where the strings meet is a node. These nodes help the spider know where to go next or catch its food. In a computer network, nodes are where information stops, gets checked, and is sent off again, just like the spider deciding where to go.

Think of a train station. Every station is a node where trains stop, people get on and off, and then the train continues its journey. Nodes in a computer network work the same way. They help information travel from one place to another, making sure it gets to the right destination.

In a family tree, each person is a node. They connect to other family members, helping us see how everyone is related. Nodes help connect different parts of a network, just like family members are connected in a family tree.