I have been promising to take you to node edit since I started this article. Well, finally, we are here. There was method to my madness, however. If you are not completely comfortable working with vector shapes, you are going to be drowning in minutes once we start on nodes.
Nodes are simply the places on any vector shape where a change in direction takes place.
However, do not confuse nodes with selection handles. I have included a sample at the left of and identical rectangle with different selection modes. With the Node Edit function activated, note how the nodes only appear at the corners, or where the line changes direction. The exciting thing about nodes is that they can be moved to change the shape of the object. In the case of curves, nodes also control the shape of the line segments.