Which statement correctly contrasts physical topology and logical topology?

Which statement correctly contrasts physical topology and logical topology?

• A. Physical topology describes how data is transmitted; logical topology describes device layout.
• B. Logical topology describes how data is transmitted; physical topology describes the layout of devices and cables.
• C. Physical topology describes the layout of devices and cables; logical topology describes data routing.
• D. Logical topology describes security features of the network.

Answer: (B)

Think of physical topology as the actual hardware map of the network: where devices sit and how cables connect them. It’s the tangible layout you’d point to if you were wiring things up or tracing cable routes. Logical topology, on the other hand, is about how data moves through that map—how the network transmits frames, addresses destinations, and forwards traffic from source to destination, regardless of the exact physical wiring. So describing logical topology as how data is transmitted and physical topology as the layout of devices and cables captures the right distinction. A network can be wired in one physical shape (for example, a star with devices connected to a central switch) but have a different logical flow of traffic depending on how forwarding and addressing are implemented. This separation helps explain why two networks can look similar on the racks but behave differently in terms of data paths and routing.

Think of physical topology as the actual hardware map of the network: where devices sit and how cables connect them. It’s the tangible layout you’d point to if you were wiring things up or tracing cable routes. Logical topology, on the other hand, is about how data moves through that map—how the network transmits frames, addresses destinations, and forwards traffic from source to destination, regardless of the exact physical wiring.

So describing logical topology as how data is transmitted and physical topology as the layout of devices and cables captures the right distinction. A network can be wired in one physical shape (for example, a star with devices connected to a central switch) but have a different logical flow of traffic depending on how forwarding and addressing are implemented. This separation helps explain why two networks can look similar on the racks but behave differently in terms of data paths and routing.