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Glite Dictionary
bus topology

bus topology

4.9
A network layout where all devices connect to one main cable
  • noun
  • /bʌs tɑːpəˈlədʒi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : topología de bus
  • In a bus topology, all computers are connected to a single central cable.

Examples

  • The network's design uses a bus topology, where each device shares a common communication line.

  • For small networks, a bus topology can be an efficient way to minimize cable usage.

  • It is also evidence that it is possible to create a hybrid design that carries most of the advantages of fully shared cache structures while enabling the use of low-cost system bus topologies.

    Academic text (1997)

Synonyms

bus network
vsbus topology
  • Specialized
3.7

A set of computers and other machines connected to one main cable to share data

focuses on the single central cable and its technical name

How Centralized

star topology
  • Specialized
5.5
bus topology
  • Specialized
4.9
loop topology
  • Specialized
6.9
mesh topology
  • Specialized
6.2

Surface Forms

bus topology singular
bus topologies plural

Morphology

bus + topology

The term is transparently compositional: 'topology' means the configuration or layout and 'bus' refers to a single conductor or shared communication line, so 'bus topology' straightforwardly denotes a network layout using a single bus. Although it is a technical networking term, a B1 learner who knows both constituent words can reliably infer this meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Bus topology is named after the single main cable called the bus that every device plugs into, like beads on a string. So the phrase describes a network where all devices 'share' one line and a break in the bus can stop the whole system.