Star Topology

What Does Star Topology Mean?

Star topology is a network topology where each individual piece of a network is attached to a central node (often called a hub or switch). The attachment of these network pieces to the central component is visually represented in a form similar to a star.

Star topology is also known as a star network.

Techopedia Explains Star Topology

Star topologies are either active or passive networks, depending on the following:

• If the central node performs processes, such as data amplification or regeneration
• If the network actively controls data transit
• If the network requires electrical power sources.

Star topologies also may be implemented with Ethernet/cabled structures, wireless routers and/or other components. In many cases, the central hub is the server, and the additional nodes are clients.

Benefits of a star network topology include the following:

• Has the ability to limit the impact of a single failure. In star networks, a single unit is isolated by its relationship to the central hub, so that if a component goes down, it only affects that unit's local reach.
• Facilitates adding or removing individual components to and from a network, for the same reasons.