• The physical layout of the nodes on a network or, rather, the way in which the nodes on a network are connected together, in broad terms, form a network's topology.
  
  
• Three basic formations are bus, ring and star.
  
  
• A network can comprise a mix of those formations to create a hybrid topology.
  
  
• The topology of a network defines the type of cabling and transceiver equipment used.
  
  
• LAN topologies of the types listed opposite are common.
  
  

          

            
Simple Physical Topologies
              

                
Bus Topology
                
Ring Topology
                
Star Topology
              
            
Hybrid Physical Topologies
              

                
Star-Wired Ring Topology
                
Star-Wired Bus Topology