nParticle objects consist of one or more individual particles controlled by the same nParticeShape node. To create an nParticle object, you select a particle type and a method that generates particles in your scene. The look and behavior of the nParticle effect you want to achieve determines which nParticle type and creation method is most suitable for your simulation.
nParticle types are preset with attribute settings that determine the appearance, size, particle render type, collision properties, and more. You can later adjust the nParticleShape node attributes to suit your needs.