> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.usespoke.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# The distribution graph
> Understand referral nodes, fixed parents, branches, paid ancestry, and public attribution.
A Spoke link is a node in a campaign's distribution graph. The node records its owner and parent. If someone creates a link from yours, their node becomes your child. That parent relationship is fixed when the node is created.
The graph records how distribution spreads. A sale's paid path is the bounded set of eligible ancestors selected from that graph under the campaign's policy.
```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
M[Merchant campaign] --> A[Alice's link]
A --> B[Ben's link]
B --> C[Chloe's link]
B --> D[Dara's link]
C --> P[Buyer purchases]
style C fill:#d5f79b,color:#191919
style B fill:#e7ddff,color:#191919
```
In this illustrative graph, a purchase through Chloe's link starts with Chloe as the nearest contributor, then Ben, then Alice. Dara is on a different branch and is not part of that sale's paid path.
## A growing network, a bounded reward
A campaign supports **one to five rewarded levels**. The graph may have more ancestry than the policy pays. Being visible in a graph does not make every ancestor eligible for every sale.
The create-link preview explains the current policy, the expected path, and how a short path affects the split. Always read that preview before creating your link.
## Direct purchases
A buyer can purchase directly without a distributor node. The contract represents this with `nodeId = 0`. A direct sale reserves **no distributor commission**, even when the campaign has a reward policy.
## Reading the network view
Use the graph to inspect ancestry and branches. Use the table for a compact list, or the path view to focus on attribution. Selecting a sale connects a commercial event to the exact path it used.
Privacy settings can replace an account's public identity with **Someone**. A private profile does not erase public blockchain transactions or alter who the contract pays.
## What cannot create a reward
Clicks, link creation, sign-ups, and additional sharers are not commission events. A qualifying purchase must reserve a reward and complete settlement before the recipient can claim it. See [settlement](/concepts/settlement).
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