Which are the differences between hook_node_view_alter and hook_preprocess_node?

Question

I have to remove some elements from a node before show it, but I can't understand where it's better to put the code. Mainly I can't understand the differences between hook_node_view_alter and hook_preprocess_node. It seems they do the same thing as they receive a render array as parameter.

I think the best option should be to use the hook_node_view but it isn't the right way to do this because in this hook only $node->content is editable.

Answer 1

hook_preprocess_node is more generic, and thus more limited, and happens after hook_node_view_alter.

Both operate on the similar array, basically, but hook_node_view_alter operates at earlier stage. So, first reason is ordering of actions, second is accessing a bit different data sets, as they changes between stages of execution. dpr() or var_dump() their arguments to see exact differences. That's all. Nothing much to it, really.