# Network Topology

Network Topology

Network Topology is the physical and logical arrangement of devices and connections in a computer network. It describes how computers and networking devices are connected and how data flows between them. Network topology shows the structure or layout of a network.

## Types of Network Topology

* [ ] Bus Topology
* [ ] Ring Topology
* [ ] Star Topology
* [ ] Tree Topology
* [ ] Mesh Topology
* [ ] Hybrid Topology

## Bus Topology

All devices connect to a single central cable (backbone), allowing data to travel along it; simple and cheap but fails if the backbone breaks.

<figure><img src="/files/o3NnI048DGhuCSnYOBnm" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Ring Topology

Devices form a closed loop, each linked to two others; data travels unidirectionally, often using tokens to avoid collisions.

<figure><img src="/files/EJ9I3YS8Icrxva5YIYag" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Star Topology

Every device connects directly to a central hub or switch; easy to manage and isolate faults, common in modern LANs.

<figure><img src="/files/n5UYsc2Rkegqg7PZDoUh" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Tree Topology

Hierarchical structure like an upside-down tree, with a root node branching into stars; scalable for large networks.

<figure><img src="/files/r0mcV1L6BqFhd1p5LmCc" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Mesh Topology

Devices interconnect with multiple paths (full or partial); highly reliable with redundancy but expensive due to cabling.

<figure><img src="/files/I8ZG7O9rpSuVazvo4tw2" alt="" width="259"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Hybrid Topology

Combines two or more types (e.g., star-bus); flexible for complex needs but harder to configure.

<figure><img src="/files/Hyk2jBW7ZIxlvVehf2lm" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mun.gitbook.io/ca/computer-networks/network-classification/network-topology.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
