Which networking topology has no central point of failure?

The mesh topology is the correct answer because it is designed to provide multiple paths for data to travel between devices within the network. In a mesh topology, each device is interconnected to many other devices, meaning that if one connection fails, there are still alternative paths for data to be transmitted. This redundancy makes mesh topologies highly reliable, as there is no single point of failure that could disrupt the entire network. This characteristic is particularly advantageous in environments where uptime is critical.

In contrast, bus topology relies on a single central cable (the bus) for data transmission. If the central cable fails, the entire network goes down. Similarly, ring topology connects devices in a circular format, where each device forwards data to the next. If one device or connection fails, it can disrupt the entire ring unless there is a fault-tolerant mechanism in place. Star topology, while more reliable than bus and ring, does have a central device (such as a switch or hub); if that central device fails, communication between all connected devices is lost.

Thus, the lack of a central point of failure is a defining advantage of mesh topology, making it a robust choice for critical networking applications.