Physical vs Logical Topology

The word topology actually covers two different ideas, and mixing them up causes confusion. Physical topology describes how cables and devices are physically arranged — the wires you could touch. Logical topology describes how data actually flows between devices, regardless of the physical wiring. A network can look like one shape physically but behave like another logically. This distinction is a favorite exam point.

The physical topology is the literal map of cabling: which device plugs into which port, where the switches sit, and how runs are routed through walls and racks. If you walked the building tracing cables, you would be documenting the physical topology. Most modern networks are physically wired as a star, with each device cabled back to a central switch.