In which topology is a signal typically forwarded by each node to the next node forming a loop?

• A. Ring
• B. Star
• C. Mesh
• D. Bus

Answer: (A)

This is about a topology where a signal is passed from one device to the next in a closed circle, so the path forms a loop. In a ring topology, each node receives the incoming signal and forwards it to its neighbor, creating that continuous loop around the network. This looping arrangement is what makes the ring distinctive: traffic flows in a single direction (or in a controlled sequence in token-ring variants) around the ring, so there is a predictable path for the signal.

A star topology, by contrast, routes all communications through a central hub or switch, so there isn’t a circulating loop that goes from node to node around the perimeter. A mesh topology connects devices with multiple interconnections, offering several possible routes rather than a single looping path. A bus topology uses one shared cable for all devices, with signals propagating along the line but not forming a closed loop among the nodes.