A tree topology is a type of network topology that resembles a tree, with a root node at the top and leaves at the bottom. In a tree topology, there is one central node (the “trunk”), and each node is connected to the central node through a single path. Nodes can be thought of as branches coming off of the trunk. Tree topologies are hierarchical, and each node can have an arbitrary number of child nodes. In a tree topology, any two linked nodes can only have one mutual connection, hence there can only be one link between them. Tree topologies are commonly used to arrange data in databases and workstations in corporate networks.
Advantages of tree topology include its flexibility and better scalability. It can support a large number of nodes. Tree topology is frequently used in computer networks to create virtual LANs. However, tree topology can be less reliable than other topologies such as star or mesh as there are more potential points of failure. If one node goes down, it can affect the entire network. Tree topology can also be more expensive to implement as it requires more cabling and equipment than other topologies.
