Node (hypertext)
A node (engl. Node ) in a hypertext is a key element of the atomization of knowledge units ( chunks of knowledge ). Nodes form the start and end points of the logical connections that are established by hyperlinks ( reference node concept ).
The nodes of a hypertext can be formed by textual elements (e.g. texts, text excerpts; hypertext in the narrower sense) or multimedia objects ( hypermedia in the narrower sense); In the case of the latter, a further distinction must be made between asynchronous elements (sound, video) and static (graphics, images) and dynamic objects (i.e. those whose exact design was not yet known exactly at the time the hypertext was created).
A single (isolated) node should be coherent in itself ( atomized knowledge ). The coherence of the entire hypertext ( semantic cohesion ) is created by consistent references ( links ), meta information and a targeted hypertext-suitable writing of the texts, for example by avoiding anaphor and deixis . The author of the hypertext - in contrast to a linear text - cannot guarantee coherence, but can only support its creation in the reader as best as possible.
"Coherence in hypertexts is largely a meaningful achievement of the user."
If neither the hypertext author succeeds in providing sufficient tools to enable coherence, nor does the reader succeed in “reading ” them out of the hypertext while surfing the Internet , the phenomenon of lost in hyperspace (cf. Serendipity ) occurs.