Network topology refers to the physical or logical arrangement of devices (nodes) and connections (links) in a network.

Elaboration:

Topology determines how data flows between devices, affects performance, fault tolerance, and scalability, and influences network cost and maintenance.

Types of Network Topologies:

1. Bus Topology – All devices share a single communication line; failure in the main cable can bring down the network.
2. Star Topology – Devices connect to a central hub/switch; easy to manage but dependent on the central device.
3. Ring Topology – Devices form a closed loop; data travels in one direction (unidirectional) or both (bidirectional).
4. Mesh Topology – Every device connects directly to multiple devices, providing redundancy and fault tolerance.
5. Hybrid Topology – A combination of two or more topologies, offering flexibility and scalability.

Different topologies are chosen based on factors like cost, data traffic, redundancy, and scalability needs.