subnodes

Subnodes are nodes that exist within another node in a hierarchical or modular data structure. The term is widely used in tree-like structures, graphs with subgraphs, and distributed systems to denote a component that is part of a larger unit. In such contexts, subnodes typically participate in parent–child relationships and inherit properties from their ancestors while maintaining local identities and behavior.

In trees, subnodes refer to the descendants of a given node. Direct subnodes are the node’s children; deeper subnodes are descendants at further levels. Traversal, insertion, deletion, or reorganization operations typically act on the subtree rooted at a particular node, affecting all of its subnodes.

In data models and formats, subnodes appear as nested structures, for example, elements within an XML element or objects within a JSON object. In document object models and scene graphs, subnodes represent nested elements or objects that compose a larger structure, enabling encapsulation and modular design.

In distributed systems or modular software architectures, a node may host multiple subnodes to improve isolation, scalability, and fault containment. Subnodes can be individually addressable, configured separately, and coordinated by a managing layer or the parent node, allowing fine-grained control and dynamic reconfiguration of the system.

See also: Node, Tree (data structure), Subgraph, DOM, XML, JSON, Graph theory, Hierarchy.