When a set of computers/devices are connected to exchange data, the networks possible are:

• local area network (LAN)
• wide area network (WAN)
• wireless LANs and WANs (WLAN & WWAN)

Network topology includes:

• Bus
• Star
• Tree (hierarchical)
• Linear
• Ring
• Mesh
  • partially connected
  • fully connected (sometimes known as fully redundant)