what's the "#text" node for?

when i use jaxp parse a xml dcument, for every node, there is always a empty child node which has a "#text" node type, emptyl node name and node value. could someone can tell me what's this node for? thanks your help!
[232 byte] By [datou_yu] at [2007-9-26 2:02:56]
# 1
Ignorable White Space
shirish_wagh at 2007-6-29 8:45:02 > top of Java-index,Enterprise & Remote Computing,Enterprise Technologies...
# 2
buy why product such "ignorable white space"? sometimes, only one. but if i parse with the DTD file, three! how can i avoid them!
datou_yu at 2007-6-29 8:45:02 > top of Java-index,Enterprise & Remote Computing,Enterprise Technologies...