What is the purpose of the stipules?

I was looking at one of my youngsters nodes and I noticed two little protrusions. Not knowing anything of plant anatomy, I assumed these were tiny branches soon to form. But, I decided to look online and I've come to believe they are the "stipules."

What is the purpose of these? Does it form into a leaf? Is it a branch?

Everyone starts somewhere,
Thanks in advance.

Haha, where's UB when you need him!