Network topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of devices and cables in a computer network.
It describes how devices are connected and how data flows between them.
• It affects network performance and speed
• It determines ease of installation and maintenance
• It impacts cost and scalability
• It helps in fault detection and troubleshooting
1️⃣ Star Topology
All devices connected to a central switch/hub
👉 Most common LAN topology
Pros: Easy management, good performance
Cons: Central device failure stops the network
2️⃣ Bus Topology
A single backbone cable connects all devices
Pros: Low cost
Cons: Cable failure stops the entire network
3️⃣ Ring Topology
Devices connected in a circular path
Pros: No collision
Cons: One break stops the network.
4️⃣ Mesh Topology
Every device is connected to every other device
Pros: Very reliable
Cons: Very expensive
5️⃣ Tree Topology
Hierarchical (Star + Bus combination)
Used in: Large organizations
6️⃣ Hybrid Topology
A combination of multiple topologies
Used in: Modern enterprise networks
• Star → Central device
• Bus → Single cable
• Ring → Circular path
• Mesh → Every device connected
• Tree → Hierarchy
• Hybrid → Mix of all
If the interviewer asks:
👉 “Which topology is best?”
Say confidently:
Star topology is the most commonly used because it is easy to manage, scalable, and provides good performance, while hybrid topology is used in large modern networks.
